One dead, two injured in Niger gas explosion

It was a Christmas to forget for residents of Kpakungun, a suburb in Minna, after a gas explosion killed one and injured two people on Wednesday.

An eyewitness account revealed that a gas cylinder exploded in a vulcanizer’s shop, killing Zakari Aliyu and badly injuring Mohammed Usman Baba and Umar Mohammed.

Reports indicate that the shop owner, Mohammed Usman Baba, had waited for the cylinder to cool down after use, but his apprentice, Zakari Aliyu, adopted the usual method of pouring water on it. The cylinder exploded and killed him on the spot.

One of the injured victims is set to undergo surgery due to the severity of his burns.

Gas explosions have continued to be a major cause of death in the country, with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) calling on Nigerians to take special precautions when using gas for cooking or other purposes.