Explosion at Illegal Refining Facility Kills One, Destroys Houses in Kano

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

At least one person was feared dead yesterday following an explosion at an illegal facility refining used engine oil exploded at Katango area of Wailari, located along Ring Road in Kano.

The explosion occurred at about 09:50 am, affecting five residential houses within the vicinity in the outskirts of the metropolis.

The operators were alleged to have employed hazardous processes to refine the used engine oil which caught fire, before concerned persons from one petrol station, Kano State Fire Service and officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) attempted to quench it after hours.

The dead body recovered from the debris of the illegal refinery by the emergency workers was identified as that of one Aminu. It was burnt beyond recognition.

Another eyewitness, a personnel of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) said he was on duty along Zaria-Kaduna road when he heard an explosion, which razed down houses close to the location.

“I immediately called the attention of the Kano Fire Service and directed them to the location. The place, which is located in the midst of residential houses at Katango in Wailari, is used to stock scraps of trucks and trailers and also to refine used engine oil for other purposes.

“No one can tell what exactly happened that led to the explosion. The trailer carrying drums of the used engine oil was gutted by the fire in which the driver was trapped and burned beyond recognition.

“Close to the location were residential houses with women and children, and about five house were gutted by the inferno. However, it is not clear whether there is any death or injury as a result as people were rescued through humanitarian efforts.

“An old lady who could not walk was rescued from one of the houses and two kids were also rescued from another house when their mother ran out and left them inside, all through humanitarian efforts by good Samaritans,” he explained.