By Omotayo Edubi
An explosion at BUA Cement company plant in Sokoto has caused the death of three persons, including an expatriate, a source at the factory has hinted.
The witness said the explosion took place on Friday morning when a technical team was working on a leakage reservoir filled with diesel.
He narrated that the repair on the tank had ignited a heavy fire outbreak, that claimed the lives of the three persons while about six others sustained various degrees of injures.
“The engineers were working on a faulty reservoir filled with diesel when the fire started. One expatriate and two workers who were trapped in the tank could not be rescued.” The witness said.
He further explained that six persons who sustained different degrees of injury were now receiving medical attention at the hospital.
Our correspondent who visited the scene was denied access, as security agencies including police mounted a blockage on the road leading to the factory.
As at the time of filing this report, there is no official statement from the company regarding the fire outbreak.
Efforts reaching the Plant’s Head of Public Relations, Sada Suleiman were unsuccessful as calls and text messages put through his mobile lines were unanswered.
However, Spokesman of the Sokoto state Fire Service Bello Baban Addini confirmed the fire incident.
Addini who could not confirmed the cause of the outbreak said it took both efforts of Federal and state fire service men to subdue the raging fire at the plant.