A major explosion rocked the city of Benin, Edo State, on Tuesday when a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refilling station was the scene of a terrifying blast.
The explosion occurred at a NIPCO filling station located in Aduwawa, along the busy Benin-Auchi Road.
Three people were injured in the incident, causing panic in the area.
The victims, a station cleaner, a pump attendant, and another unidentified individual, were immediately rushed to a hospital for medical treatment.
Their current condition remains undisclosed, but eyewitnesses reported that they sustained serious injuries.
The explosion has raised alarm among residents of Benin, as concerns grow over the safety of CNG installations and refilling stations.
According to reports, the explosion happened while CNG was being pumped into the newly installed gas tank of an Audi vehicle.
The vehicle had been brought to the station for a test run after undergoing a conversion to run on CNG, a cheaper and environmentally friendly alternative to petrol.
Eyewitnesses at the scene said the explosion occurred suddenly, shaking nearby buildings and causing people to flee in panic.
A viral video of the incident, which is 25 seconds long, captured the aftermath of the blast.
The video shows debris scattered around the station, with voices in the background expressing shock and blaming the explosion on the use of fake or substandard materials for the conversion of the vehicle’s gas system.
In the video, one person can be heard shouting, “This is what happens when you use fake parts!”
Others can be heard calling for help as thick black smoke rose into the air.
The injured victims included a cleaner who was working at the station at the time of the explosion.
A pump attendant, who was reportedly near the vehicle when the gas was being pumped, also sustained injuries.
The third victim, who remains unidentified, was said to have been near the explosion site as well.
Immediately after the blast, bystanders rushed to assist the injured, while others called for emergency services.
The victims were taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.
Eyewitnesses say they appeared to have suffered burns and other injuries, though the exact nature of their conditions remains unclear.
There are also unconfirmed reports that the driver of the Audi and the technician responsible for the gas tank installation narrowly escaped injury.
In the aftermath of the explosion, the technician who installed the gas tank reportedly turned himself in to the police.
Sources say the technician voluntarily approached the authorities to explain what had happened.
He led officers to the scene, where further investigations were carried out.
The police have yet to release an official statement, but it is believed that the technician is cooperating with their ongoing inquiries into the incident.
The incident has sparked discussions about the safety of CNG as a fuel alternative in Nigeria, especially with the growing number of vehicles being converted to run on gas.
Many Nigerians are now turning to CNG as a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative to petrol, particularly in light of recent fuel price hikes.
However, the explosion has brought attention to the dangers associated with improper installations and the use of substandard materials.
