Many injured as Vehicle Using CNG explodes in Edo

Many people have been left injured as a vehicle powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) exploded in Edo State.

The incident occurred on Thursday morning, October 17, 2024. when the vehicle parked to fill up at the NIPCO filling station located at Aduwawa along the Benin-Auchi Expressway.

In a viral video making round on social media, the vehicle was vividly scattered while people around the vicinity ran for dear lives as the loud sound from the explosion created panic among residents in the vicinity.

Three persons were said to have sustained various degrees of injuries and have been rushed to a private hospital for medical attention.

The explosion is coming on the heels of safety concerns raised about the conversion of petrol-powered vehicles to CNG as advocated for by the Federal Government as a measure to lower the cost of transportation following the removal of fuel subsidy.

In a related development, mass burial has been held for the 153 casualties of the petrol tanker explosion which occurred on Wednesday in Majiya town, in the Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

It was reported that 94 persons lost their lives on the spot, while many injured others were rushed to Ringim General Hospital with doctors battling to save their lives.

Due to the high number of casualties, other victims were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Birnin Kudu, when there was no more bed space at Ringim Hospital.

The Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency confirmed 147 were given mass burial, following the explosion, with over 55 admitted to various hospitals.

Most of the victims were burnt beyond recognition.

At the time of going to bed, a statement from the Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Police Command, Lawan Shiisu Adam, confirmed 153 dead and over 100 receiving treatment in hospitals.

Confirming the number of casualties as 147, the Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Haruna Mairiga, said his men rescued about 50 other persons to different hospitals in the state.

He said, “When we got there, initially we were told about 95 persons died but during the mass burial, we were able to count 147 bodies whom we all gave mass burial.

“We also rescued about 50 injured persons to different hospitals in the state “

President Bola Tinubu, his wife, Oluremi, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, governors and many other Nigerians expressed grief over the incident