Barely 24 hours after the Petrol tanker explosion that killed 23 In Lokoja, Kogi state, another massive gas explosion in which people sustained burnt injuries on Thursday tore Iju and Akute communities in Lagos and Ogun States, respectively,
The explosion, which was heard as far as Harmony Estate and Obawole, Ogba, Iju in Lagos as well as Akute in Ogun State, was said to have occurred around 3:30pm at an area close to Balogun Bus Stop in Ishaga.
A lawyer, Fisayo Eluyare, who was among those who raised the alarm, said the explosion nearly brought down his house.
He said: “Gas explosion nearly brought my house down! The explosion didn’t even happen very close to my house but it shook the whole house and almost shattered my windows.
“The light from the explosion came very close to my building. Thank you God.”
Other residents appealed for emergency responders to be alerted as the fire, they claimed, was already entering nearby homes.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which confirmed the incident, urged residents to stay away from the area.
NEMA’s Southwest Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye, said that the agency’s officials were on ground and fire service has been contacted.
He said: “Yes, a tanker exploded at Balogun Bus stop, Iju Ishaga. Our people are already there and fire service has been informed.
“The tanker was trying to enter a gas plant when it exploded. There were domestic cylinders there and so, those ones also started exploding.
“The fire has not extended to any building. It is still within the gas plant. People sustained burn injuries but no deaths reported yet.
“We have contacted fire service. We appeal to people to stay away from the area,” he said
The gas explosion came after the tanker explosion on Wednesday along Felele – Nataco axis of Abuja – Lokoja road.
Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Idris Ali, confirming the incident disclosed that the victims of the explosion include ten adult males, six female adults, three female children and four other children burnt beyond recognition.
Ali added one child escaped death with injury. in the incident which involved 10 vehicles including five cars, one tanker, three tricycles and two motorcycles were involved in the accident.
Lagos state in the last one year has recorded several cases of explosion involving fuel tankers on its roads. The Lagos-Ibadan expressway from the Otedola-Berger axis and the Kara-long bridge had recorded several of the incidents that had claimed lives and properties worh millions of Naira.
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