Tragedy In Kano: Three Killed As Fuel Tanker Explodes, Taruni Plaza Fire Follows Hours Later

Kano State witnessed a devastating day on Friday as two separate fire outbreaks claimed three lives and left another person injured, according to the Kano State Fire Service.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The first incident occurred at about 1:30 p.m. at the Kura Market junction along Zaria Road when a petrol tanker loaded with 30,000 litres of fuel toppled and exploded. The tanker, with registration number NGZ 250 XA, reportedly crushed a cyclist before igniting.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Fire Service revealed that four individuals were involved in the accident.

“Four people were affected; three were rescued unconscious and later confirmed dead, while the cyclist survived,” the statement noted.

The Emergency Response Unit was alerted by retired Civil Defence officer Danlami Muhammad, prompting a swift response from firefighters deployed from both the headquarters and the Kura station. Police officers and FRSC personnel also assisted in managing the situation. The bodies of the deceased were handed over to ASP Ahmad Lawan of the Kura Police Division. The cause of the tanker accident is still being investigated.

Less than an hour later, at around 2:45 p.m., another fire erupted at Hamisu Plaza on Maiduguri Road in Taruni Local Government Area, engulfing the top floor of the two-storey commercial complex.

Three shops were completely razed, though firefighters were able to save all remaining shops on the lower floors. A fire truck stationed at a nearby trade fair site helped speed up the response. The cause of the second fire is also under investigation, according to the service.

The Director of the Kano State Fire Service, Alhaji Sani Anas, urged residents to be cautious with fire, especially during the dry harmattan season, and advised motorists to obey traffic regulations to avoid preventable disasters.

These latest incidents add to a growing list of fire tragedies in the state. Only nine days earlier, four members of a family died in a house fire at Kundila Layin Baba Impossible in Taruni LGA. Earlier this month, another blaze destroyed 25 temporary shops and 19 stores at the popular Singer Market in Kano metropolis.