Kwara tanker explosion victim cries for help

A victim of the petrol tanker explosion which happened at Magaji Are quarters, Idi Ape community in Ilọrin South LGA of Kwara State on Saturday is crying out for help.

The victim, Abdulateef Ọlayiwọla Jamiu, who operates a popular football viewing centre in the area, was among the most affected during the incident.

Speaking to City and Crime on Sunday, Jamiu said over N5 million worth of properties were destroyed.

According to him, “My football viewing centre was completely razed in addition to five giant plasma TV sets, a generator, fans, benches and satellite dish including many other electronic gadgets. There were also several bags of charcoal kept inside my shop by a female seller that also got burned.

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“That is my entire investment for years, from where I cater for my wife, children and entire family. As I speak with you now, I don’t even know where to start. I am completely devastated after years of struggling, to lose an entire livelihood within minutes. I earnestly plead with the government to come to my rescue. I don’t want to return to the street,” Jamiu added.

The incident occurred around 11am on Saturday when the tanker with registration number MUS916YF containing 22,000 litres suddenly exploded while diesel was being syphoned from a pumping machine to serve an Airtel Telecom mast in the crowded community.

Two other shops and part of the mast were also affected.

Although no life was lost, properties worth several millions were said to have been burnt during the incident which warranted reinforcement from the fire service.

The Public Relations Officer of the state fire service, Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, confirmed the incident.

He told our correspondent that “The situation escalated as the tanker’s valve opened, causing diesel to gush out.

“We have to call for additional support and another fire appliance quickly joined the effort. It was a major disaster averted. Unfortunately, the tanker, some shops and a football viewing centre were completely burnt including part of the telephone mast.”