A tanker filled with fuel exploded Sunday night while offloading at a fuel station in Kontagora, Niger State sparking concerns over potential casualties.

The incident occurred at a station owned by a prominent fuel marketer, located near the ‘B’ Division of the Nigeria Police in Kontagora Local Government Area.

Eyewitnesses state that the explosion took place as Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol, was being unloaded from the tanker, igniting a large fire.

At the time of the explosion, other fuel storage tanks at the station were still full, prompting fears that the situation could escalate.

READ ALSO: Tanker explodes on Otedola bridge

Kuma Tsukwam, Niger State Sector Commander for the Federal Road Safety Corps, confirmed on Monday that his team had acted swiftly to prevent a larger disaster.

“Our personnel were able to contain the situation before it worsened,” Tsukwam stated. “They cordoned off the area and ensured no one was injured.”

While there were no reported casualties, Tsukwam noted that the incident was likely due to a lack of adequate safety measures and valves at the station.

“It was a close call, but the primary concern was preventing casualties. The station must improve its safety protocols to avoid future incidents,” he added.

Crediblenewsng.com