Gas Explosion: Police Confirm Prof, Son, Three Others Dead

The Kaduna Police Command has confirmed the death of five persons in the gas explosion at Sabon Tasha in Kaduna metropolis on Saturday afternoon.
The Command’s Public Relations Officers, DSP Yakubu Sabo, made the confirmation in a press statement issued in Kaduna yesterday.
Sabo added that four other persons sustained various degrees of injuries in the incident which occurred after a cylinder exploded at a gas refill shop.
According to Sabo, two of the victims were burnt beyond recognition.
“The impact of the incident affected three other adjoining shops of different businesses.
“Teams of detectives have been dispatched to the scene on rescue mission and further investigation.
“The four injured have been rushed to Barau Dikko Hospital Kaduna for treatment,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday expressed sadness at the gas explosion which killed the Chairman of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, Prof. Simon Mallam, his son and three others at Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna on Saturday.
The President, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said: “I am deeply touched by this unfortunate incident that claimed the lives of Prof. Simon Mallam, his son and others.
“The death of the erudite Professor has robbed Nigeria of a great scientist whose services were acutely needed at a time we are increasing emphasis on science and technology for development.
“I extend my heartfelt sympathy to his family and those of other victims of the gas explosion.
“May God comfort these families and give them the fortitude to bear the loss.”
Reacting to the incident yesterday, the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, says it has resolved to dislodge illegal gas facilities and prosecute perpetrators.
The decision follows a recent gas explosion in an illegal station which led to the death of five people, leaving four others injured on Saturday at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna state.
The DPR Zonal Operation Controller, Kaduna Zone, Isa Tafida, while condoling with victims of the gas explosion, lamented that the gas retailer operated illegally without even category D license.
He urged investors, gas plant operators and gas retailers to obtain the required license that would ensure safe handling of gas to avoid such accidents.
According to Tafida, “The DPR Kaduna Zone wish to extend its sympathy and condolence to the families of the victim, the government and people of Kaduna state over the unfortunate incident of gas explosion that occurred on Saturday that recorded loss of lives, injuries of various degrees and loss of properties.
“The Department states from the outcome of the preliminary investigations that; the facility is an illegal gas retailing vendor that engages in illegal storage, decanting and sales of LPG (cooking) and acetylene (industrial gases), that the operator of that illegal facilities are unknown to the Department, that the facility is not licensed by DPR.”