Explosion Kills Three at BUA Cement Factory

Onuminya Innocent In Sokoto

Three staff members of BUA Cement Company, Sokoto lost their lives due to diesel explosion from the tank within the premises of the newly commissioned plant 

In a statement by its Head of Administration and Corporate Affairs, Sada Suleiman, BUA said the incident happened when some staff members were carrying out maintenance on one of the storage tanks.

He explained that immediately the Emergency and Mitigation Department of the factory was alerted they swung into action to avoid further escalation. 

He maintained that the state fire service and fire department of the company are working assiduously to put off the fire.

He stated that the company had not ascertained the cause of the inferno, stressing the disruption of production after the incident had resumed.

He said the management commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives as a result of the incident. At the time of filing this report, fire is still burning in the factory. 

The fire, according to THISDAY inquiries, has damaged some equipment and other valuable items of the factory.

A source, however, said three persons died and many others sustained injuries as result of the incident, which lasted for hours until combined teams of federal and state fire service officers came to the company rescue.

One of the sources also said the inferno was suspected to be caused by a tanker off loading fuel, where a worker was repairing the stationed tank when the explosion ignited.

When contacted the Prevention Officer of Sokoto State Fire Service, Nuhu Lawal confirmed the incident noting that the service mobilised teams as well as moved fire-fighting equipment to the scene.  

Lawal declined further comments, but said the combined teams of the state and federal fire services are still making efforts to stop the ravaging fire.

On his part, Umar Nura-Sifawa, who led men of the Federal Fire Service to the scene explained that the fire was ignited by oil, which takes a longer period to extinguish.

“As you can see, a combined team of firefighters are on the ground, trying to stop the fire from escalating to other areas.”