By Abigail Philip David
A fire broke out at a filling station in Dutse, Jigawa State, on Thursday evening following an explosion at around 8 p.m. The incident occurred at the Shakkotu filling station along Kiyawa Road in the state capital.
Eyewitnesses reported that the explosion happened while a fuel tanker was offloading its contents at the station, sparking a chaotic scene as people fled for safety. One witness, Baba Nura, described the incident, saying, “I was nearby when I heard a loud explosion. I rushed to the scene and saw the tanker had burst, and fire was spreading throughout the station.”
The explosion caused significant damage to the filling station and several surrounding properties. The Jigawa State Police Command confirmed the incident through its spokesperson, SP Shi’isu Adam, who said the fire outbreak was reported at 8 p.m. and the area was promptly cordoned off.
“We immediately responded with fire service personnel. As of now, no fatalities have been reported, but our team is still at the scene, and more details will be provided later,” Adam said.
Attempts to reach the filling station’s manager for comment were unsuccessful. Staff at the station refused to speak, citing instructions from higher authorities, and the manager’s whereabouts remained unknown.
