A devastating gas explosion in Sabon Wuse, Tafa Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, has left traders and residents counting their losses after fire engulfed several shops, vehicles, and food supplies.
The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the incident on Sunday, noting that while there were no reported casualties, the scale of destruction was extensive.
According to witnesses, the explosion occurred around 11 p.m. on Saturday when a gas tanker was offloading at a local filling station.
The resulting blast sent shockwaves across the town, causing panic among residents as flames spread rapidly.
Musa Aliyu, a resident, described the scene as terrifying.
“The fire was so intense that its flames could be seen from different parts of town. People ran out of their homes in fear. We thank Allah that no one was injured, but the destruction is enormous,” he said.
The fire reached a nearby petrol station, engulfing shops and parked vehicles before firefighters could bring it under control. By the time emergency responders arrived, much of the damage had already been done.
In response to the disaster, residents have called on authorities to enforce stricter safety regulations at gas and petrol stations to prevent similar incidents in the future.