Smuggled gas explodes in Babura Local Government area of Jigawa state as The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state says that five people were injured.
Spokesman of the NSCDC, Adamu Shehu, confirmed that the explosion also damaged shops and houses.
Also, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Lawan Shiisu, confirmed the incident.
He said 17 shops and five houses were damaged by the inferno caused by the explosion.
NSCDC spokesman Shehu in his account said the incident occurred on Monday at about 9.00 p.m., after security operatives on stop-and search in the area flagged down a truck conveying 25 gas cylinders.
He alleged that the driver of the truck refused to stop while being pursued by the operatives, resulting in one of the cylinders falling off the truck and catching fire immediately.
The spokesman added that the vehicle was from Tinkim town in Magarya LGA of Niger Republic heading toward Hadejia LGA of Jigawa.
He said the victims are currently receiving treatment at the Babura General Hospital.
Similarly, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Lawan Shiisu, also confirmed the incident.
Shiisu said that the vehicle was being pursued by a team of operatives from the Nigerian Customs Border Drill No. 12, while transporting the gas from Niger Republic.
He added that 17 shops and five houses were damaged by the inferno caused by the explosion.
