At least 20 people are reported to have sustained serious injuries at a gas explosion that rocked Bovas, a popular filling station in Ilorin. Kwara State, today, 17th March.
The accident occurred at the company’s filling station at Offa Garage, Ilorin causing a stampede as bystanders, customers and staff scampered to safety.
A hawker beside the filling station, Mrs Iyabo Olorunnisola said that “The explosion happened around some minutes to 11:00am and we just heard a loud bang and smoke taking over the whole filling station and we all scampered to safety not knowing what was happening.
She added that, “in the ensuing melee, several people sustained bruises, while some of those in the filling station like hawkers, petrol attendants and those buying fuel were injured.”
The eyewitness called on the management of Bovas filling station to take insurance cover for their staff in case of injuries or death in any similar accident in the future.
Mr Azeez Iyiola who owns a shop nearby told Today.ng that “The explosion was from the commercial gas plant located inside the filling station.
According to him, “It was dispensing and suddenly exploded, it was however, immediately brought under control, although several people sustained varying degrees of injury.