At least 20 people sustained injuries following the explosion of a fuel tanker in Kaduna’s Rigasa community on Wednesday. The injured included five firemen and members of Kaduna State’s Vigilante Service, as well as onlookers who stood near the filling station to witness the fire.
According to reports, the tanker was unloading fuel when it exploded, sending the community into a state of panic. Firefighters and vigilantes were among those injured, reportedly trying to put the fire out.
The Kaduna state director of fire service, Mr. Aboi said that the injured men were rushed to specialist hospitals for treatment.
He accused the fuel station’s management of being negligent. He said it was not right for the station to offload fuel in the afternoon, and that it was better to do it at night to avoid putting lives at risk.
One woman said the fire had burned part of their family home near the filling station, and that her brother and his son are in critical condition after suffering severe burns in the explosion.
The Kaduna State Police Command is yet to respond to the incident.
