Sokoto gas explosion kills two artisans, others

No fewer than five people were said to have lost their lives in a gas cylinder explosion that rocked Isa, in the Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Sunday.

An eyewitness, Usman Muhammad, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone, confirmed the explosion.

Muhammad said the explosion occurred in a welder’s shop.

He said those killed in the explosion included two artisans.

 He regretted that such tragedy can occur in an area that has been under bandits’ siege.

“The explosion killed those people by mutilating their bodies. Their bodies were later evacuated by policemen drafted to the scene,” he said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Sanusi Abubakar, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed to our correspondent that the explosion occurred on Sunday afternoon, resulting in the death of four persons.

He said the explosion was not connected to the security challenges being witnessed in the area, “but as a result of an explosion from a cylinder in the shop of the local welder in the area.”

Abubakar said four persons died while three others were injured.

The injured persons, who are in critical condition, were said to be receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in the state.

When contacted, the chairman of the local government, Abubakar Danali, confirmed the incident but could not ascertain casualty figures because he was not in town at the time of the explosion.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]