SEVERAL people were injured, seven vehicles damaged, and two houses were destroyed after a truck carrying gas cylinders exploded in the Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Fortunately, no fatalities were reported in the incident.
A local source revealed today that the cause of the explosion remains unknown. The truck was reportedly transporting gas cylinders from neighboring Niger Republic to the Magamar Jibia Area.
Katsina State Police Command spokesperson Abubakar Sadiq confirmed the occurrence in a statement.
He explained that the explosion happened around 8:45 a.m., startling police officers at the Jibia Divisional Police Headquarters.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for the area quickly led a team of officers, with military support, to the scene.
Upon arrival, they discovered a truck loaded with gas cylinders ablaze at the Tamal filling station along the Kagadama-Magamar Jibia Road. The joint response team implemented preventive measures to extinguish the fire and protect lives and property.
Sadiq noted that six vehicles were significantly affected by the blaze, but fortunately, there were no casualties.
The Commissioner of Police for Katsina State, Aliyu Abubakar Musa, has ordered a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the explosion, promising that updates will be provided as the investigation unfolds.