A devastating fire, triggered by a gas explosion, has obliterated a filling station, a warehouse, and several other structures in the Sabon Wuse area of Tafa Local Government in Niger State.
The incident, which began around 11:00 PM on Saturday, has left the community in despair, particularly due to the lack of timely response from local fire services.
A local resident, whose identity was not disclosed, recounted the ordeal to SaharaReporters, “As you can see, at around 10:30 PM to 11:00 PM, a fire broke out. The incident is occurring at a business location; the fuel station, a food store, and Alhaji Seven Seven’s warehouse. As you can see, the fire is still raging, destroying the fuel station and the store.” The resident further lamented the absence of the fire service, stating, “Unfortunately, we have not received any assistance from the fire service to extinguish the flames. This is a recurring issue in our area, and we often do not get a response from the fire service. We are pleading with the government to come to our aid, as this situation poses a serious risk. May God help us.”
Ibrahim Khalil Abdullahi, the Niger State Fire Service Prevention Officer, confirmed the incident to SaharaReporters, noting that the fire was eventually extinguished between 2 AM and 3 AM on Sunday. “We are aware of the incident. Our men went there. They eventually quenched it around 2 AM to 3 AM. We thank God there is no casualty (nobody died) but we are still investigating the cause and the extent of the damage done,” he stated, promising further updates as they become available.
This incident comes on the heels of another tragic event in the state where, approximately three weeks prior, a catastrophic fuel tanker explosion claimed at least 98 lives and left many injured. That disaster occurred when residents attempted to collect spilled fuel, leading to an unexpected ignition and massive explosion.
The repeated occurrences of such incidents highlight a pressing need for enhanced emergency response capabilities and infrastructure in the region, urging local authorities to address these critical safety concerns.