Following an explosion caused by a truck transporting Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Gwagwa community, Abuja, a number of individuals were injured. The explosion occurred near the well-known Police Junction in the community.
According to residents who spoke to Daily Trust, the driver of the truck suddenly parked the vehicle after detecting a strong odor from its contents. He then warned people to evacuate before the explosion happened. The driver remained at the scene briefly before disappearing when the vehicle caught fire.
Abdulaziz Adam, one of the residents, stated that he and other volunteers directed oncoming motorists and pedestrians away from the area, preventing the situation from worsening.
During a visit to the site on Saturday, it was discovered that many individuals sustained injuries while attempting to flee, and a few suffered burns from the fire.
Usman Haruna, a wheelbarrow pusher who jumped off a bridge across Gwagwa River while trying to escape, had his leg’s tendon vein severed. He was taken to a hospital where he received necessary injections, but surgery to repair his leg can only be performed once he finds a sponsor.
Some of the burn victims, including Abdullahi Muhammad, a motorcycle spare parts shop owner near the incident site, have turned to traditional remedies for treatment. Muhammad was unconscious when the reporter visited, and he had been taken back to his residence in the community.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the FCT police command, S.P Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident, stating that there have been no reports of fatalities thus far.
