By Abayomi Adeshida & Favour Nnabugwu, with agency reports
Maje (Niger)— No fewer than four persons died on Sunday in a fire sparked off when a petrol-laden tanker exploded close to the NNPC Depot in Maje, Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State. The explosion also injured six others who sustained various degree of burns.
The explosion also destroyed 27 shops and two residential houses.
The incident occurred when the tanker, while trying to find a parking space along the road in Maje village, skidded, spilled its contents and caught fire.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the tanker conductor, one Ibrahim, was among the dead victims, while the others were one Halima, who was visiting a relation in the area and two other unidentified persons.
The Chairman, Suleja Local Government Council, Malam Yunusa Adamu, who attended the burial of the victims, pledged to foot the hospital bills of the injured victims, who are receiving treatment at Suleja General Hospital.
Meanwhile, Mr Edwin Nwokike, the Suleja unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, and the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Pius Edobor, have confirmed the incident, saying that investigations into the accident had commenced.
Nwokike warned tanker drivers to park at the designated parking space provided for them to avoid a repeat of such incident.
