A gas explosion which rocked Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital has claimed lives of seven persons in a separate incident which occurred within one week, an ugly development which is now causing panic for the residents.
Penpushing reports that, the first incident occurred around at Oke-Egunya, along Nigerian Television Authority(NTA) road in the town claiming three persons including an infant, and barely few days to the sad development, another explosion happened at Conference Hotels also claiming two persons, while the third incident occurred at Marque Events Centre located within premises of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library with two lives lost.
The report on the first incident has it that a technician was topping up gas of a faulty refrigerator at a residence in the area, which attracted fire from someone cooking with firewood and there came an explosion
Penpushing further reports that, the Director of Fire Service in the state, Fatai Adefala, speaking on the incident explained that as at the time fire fighters get to the scene, three persons had been burnt to death.
“We received a distress call at 3:15pm at Oke-Igbore. We learned it was a spark of fire. On getting there, we discovered it was a gas explosion. What really happened was that they were cooking outside with fire and unfortunately the gas exploded.’, he said
“They were trying to top the gas in the fridge, in the process, it exploded. Three lives were lost, one infant was among them. You know it was those who are living in that house that were affected. It is an ancient building,” he said.
Penpushing also reports that, the second sad incident occurred at the Conference Hotel on Presidential Boulevard, Abeokuta, two persons,with one of them identified as a technician, while the explosion left three others with varying degrees of injuries.
The Hotel Facility Manager, Engr Tunde Osinubi in reaction to the incident in a statmement attributed the cause of the explosion to “fake gas cylinder’,a routine maintenance of the automatic revolving door at the entrance of the hotel was ongoing when the explosion occured”
“A routine maintenance of the automatic revolving door at the entrance of hotel reception, which involved the use of oxyacetylene gas to weld the door hinges, was being carried out. The Oxyacetylene gas cylinder suddenly exploded, killing the technician and one other person yet to be identified’, Osinubi explained.
“Three other people were injured and were immediately taken to the hospital. They are responding to treatment. So far no sabotage is suspected. It is however suspected that the gas cylinder purchased at the open market may be fake and unable to withstand gas pressure’, he stated.
“The incidence of Gas explosions as a result of fake cylinders being sold has become worrisome and of great concern as similar incidents have been reported in several locations in Abeokuta recently with casualties’, he stated.
“The management of the hotel sympathizes with the families and friends of the deceased and wishes to warn the general public of the presence of fake gas cylinders in the market. This incidence is however greatly regretted”,Osinubi added
Penpushing reports that, the third incident which occurred on was at the Marque events centre of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, and also claimed two persons when technicians were topping up gas into the air conditioner (AC).
The two persons were confirmed dead, while as at the time of filing this report security guards at the gate turned visitors back, allowing as truck of the State Fire Service and some officials into the premises.
Penpushing reports that, number of concern Nigerians have called on Nigeria Police Force and other security operatives on need to investigate the rampant gas explosion, suspecting that fake gas must have been brought into the state.
The incidents according to Engr Dideolu Falobi is a serious challenge, adding that recent press conference and public notice by Standard Organisation of Nigeria(SON) confirmed the existential threat to human lives
“Definitely, there is a serious challenge with gas cylinders in Abeokuta in particular, and Nigeria given the incidents captured in the news stories which were published in May, 2021. Also, the press conference and public notice by SON further confirm the existential threat to human lives and properties from these either substandard or expired gas cylinders’, Falobi said.
‘The very sad occurrence at Conference Hotel brings to the fore the need to investigate the source of these cylinders and destruction of the remaining ones still in circulation. Nobody is safe on this for now. May God grant the family of those that lost their lives the fortitude to bear the loss. May He also grant them eternal rest. May He also grant the injured perfect healing”, he added
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