A gas cylinder explosion at a vulcanizer shop in Kpakungun, a suburb of Minna, has claimed the life of Zakari Aliyu and left two others injured. The tragic incident occurred on Christmas Day when Mohammed Usman Baba, the shop owner, used the cylinder to service a customer and left it to be charged.
Eyewitnesses report that the cylinder became excessively hot, prompting Zakari, an apprentice at the shop, to fetch water in an attempt to cool it— a common safety practice. However, as he poured the water onto the cylinder, it exploded, causing fatal injuries to Zakari and injuring Baba and his son, Umar Mohammed.
According to Faisal Avuya, an eyewitness, the explosion scattered Zakari’s body and severely injured both the shop owner and his son. Umar is reportedly in need of surgery due to serious stomach injuries sustained in the blast. The incident has left the community in shock, with authorities now investigating the cause of the explosion.