No fewer than 12 persons sustained various degrees of burns following an explosion which rocked a settlement
known as Kara Market along Atani Road, Ogbaru near Onitsha in Anambra State. Confirming the incident, the Police Public
Relations Officer (PPRO) in Anambra, DSP Ali Okechukwu, said on Wednesday in Ogbaru, that the explosion was caused
by fuel stored in a jerrycan for future use.
“The explosion was not a bomb as
being speculated by people. A jerrycan
of petrol that was brought to the
settlement exploded around the area and some people sustained various degrees of burns.
“They were taken to various hospitals
and are currently receiving treatment.
No death was recorded,” Okechukwu
said.
He said that Police had taken control of
the situation and advised people to stop
panic buying and storage of fuel
because of the danger such practice
posed in the event of an explosion or
fire incident.
Okechukwu put the casualty figure at
11.
However, an eyewitness and leader of
the settlement, Mr Sabo Mohammed, told
NAN that the incident occurred at a
restaurant in the market at about 8:30
p.m. on May 3.
Mohammed alleged that the explosion
might have been from a bomb brought
into the market by an unknown person.
“An unidentified boy walked into a
restaurant with three jerry cans
demanding for food and left almost
immediately without eating the food,
leaving the jerrycans behind.
“Some minutes later, one of the
jerrycans, exploded leaving many people
injured.
“The victims had severe burns that you
cannot even hold their skin to carry
them to hospital,” Mohammed said.
Another eyewitness, who pleaded
anonymity, described the incident as
“unfortunate”.
The source said that the victims were
taken to five hospitals — Good News
Hospital and Chioma Clinic both in
Ogbaru; Toronto and Borromew
Hospitals in Onitsha, and the General
Hospital at Asaba, Delta state.
“This has been a peaceful market until
yesterday. We are now disorganised
and afraid of what might happen next,”
the source said.
It urged the state government to
provide adequate security in the area
and help pay the bills of the victims.
Narrating her ordeal, one of the victims,
Mrs Mariam Mohammed, who is
receiving treatment at one of the
hospitals, said she was washing dishes
at the restaurant when the explosion
occurred.
“I was washing plates when suddenly I
heard a loud noise and fire spreading
everywhere. Substances from the fire
poured on people eating and those
standing near the restaurant. It was
then that I realised I was affected too,”
she said.
A doctor at the hospital, Dr Joseph
Evbomemen, said that Mrs Mohammed
suffered serious burns on the body but
was responding to treatment.
“The patient is now stable unlike
yesterday that she was disoriented.
They brought in two patients; this
woman and one other boy.
“The boy was badly injured, so we
referred him to Borromew Hospital and
started treating the woman. We had to
remove the surface skin but she has
improved.
“The explosion affected Mrs
Mohammed’s limbs and skull,’’
Evbomemen said.
NAN reports that the settlement,
formerly a cattle market, now harbours
artisans, labourers, onions and poultry
dealers.
Meanwhile, two Police patrol vehicles
have been stationed in front of the
market while traders were seen going
about their normal businesses. (NAN) http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/explosion-rocks-onitsha-market-12-persons-injured/

Eaya .. But pishur no dey o

May be they will say Fulani terrorist

Hmmm.... The only solution to this issue we re experiencing now is to clearly mark out our territory n protect it coz lik cancer cell terrorism has spread to everywhere... U either cut off the damaged part or risk destroying d whole... My piece

awww! Igbos my condolense!
buh wah cud b the cause
i dnt tink its BH

buharisbae:
awww! Igbos my condolense!
buh wah cud b the cause
i dnt tink its BH

human error,dats the cause

This Administration has brought so much anxiety and uncertainty. Ppl now risk their lives and dat of others cos they ain't sure wen the next fuel scarcity will hit.

Ppl will soon device means 2 start storing electricity 4 future use due 2 lack of trust in this Admin.

Mr. President's Knights are enemies of Nigeria if they can't tell him abt the real situation outside the Villa.