A fuel-laden tanker went up in flames at the A.A Rano filling station in Hannun Riga, near the General Hospital and the ‘B’ Division of the Nigeria Police in Kontagora, Niger State.
The fire erupted around 7 pm on Sunday while Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, was being offloaded from the tanker. According to eyewitnesses, the fire started during the offloading process, raising fears of escalation as other fuel storage tanks still contained petrol.
One of the witnesses, Abba Mohammed, stated, “Fire Service personnel are making efforts to contain the blaze, but the situation remains tense as the flames continue to spread.”
While no casualties have been reported, the incident sparked panic, forcing bystanders and nearby residents to flee for safety.
Attempts to contact the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullah Baba Arah, for comments were unsuccessful as his phone line was unreachable.