By Faridat Salifu
A devastating fire erupted at an illegal oil refinery in the Katango area of Wailari, situated along Ring Road Bypass, opposite Maryam Shekarau Estate in Kano, resulting in the loss of life and significant property damage.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 09:50 am on Monday morning, led to the destruction of five residential houses and a truck in the vicinity.
Despite the valiant efforts of the Kano State Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and fire workers from Salbas Petrol Station, it took an arduous three hours to bring the raging fire under control.
Tragically, the lifeless body of one Aminu, rendered unrecognizable by the intense flames, was discovered amidst the ruins of the illegal refinery by the courageous fire workers.
Ahmad Umar Gaya, a diligent personnel of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), recounted his harrowing experience as he witnessed the initial explosion while on duty along the road. Hastily alerting the Kano Fire Service, Gaya directed them to the location of the engulfing inferno.
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Reportedly, the illicit premises, concealed within a cluster of residential houses at Katango in Wailari, served as a storage site for truck and trailer scraps and conducted the illicit refining of used engine oil for undisclosed purposes.
The precise cause of the explosion remains unknown, but it resulted in the crippling destruction of the trailer loaded with drums of used engine oil, ensnaring the driver and leading to the tragic loss of life.
Adjacent to this calamitous scene were family homes, with women and children endangered by the raging flames.
Regrettably, approximately five houses succumbed to the inferno, prompting courageous efforts by bystanders to rescue an elderly woman unable to escape, as well as two young children left behind by their fleeing mother.
Following a tireless three-hour battle, the resolute firefighting teams successfully brought the harrowing ordeal to a close.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a sobering reminder of the potential dangers posed by illegal and hazardous activities within residential communities, underscoring the importance of vigilance and caution in safeguarding lives and property.
