Three people have lost their lives in an explosion at the BUA cement factory in Sokoto, the tragedy occurred around 10 a.m on 18th March 2022. The spokesperson of the Sokoto State Fire Service, Bello Baban Addini, confimed the explosion in a statement but did not provide detail.
The management of the factory is yet to release a statement on the incident. Although, information from one of the workers name Sambo revealed that the explosion occurred when some staff at the engineering section were welding a diesel truck.
“I was in another section of the company but some of the workers were welding a diesel truck in their part. It was dangerous because how could you weld a truck filled with diesel? That was what caused the explosion.”
When questioned how many people died, Mr Sambo said, “three people have been confirmed dead because their corpses have been identified and they were all burnt. Several others have been wounded. Two ambulances just left here before you came. We don’t know how many people have died but there other workers that have not been seen up to now (Friday).”
He added a Chinese staffer had also not been seen.
“We heard that it was while some of their workers were welding some of their working tools but there was a fuel or diesel truck around the place. Some of the workers are my people (from community) and they told me that several people have lost their lives in the explosion,” as stated by Ummaru Alhaji Sani the village head where the factory is located.
The three million metric tonnes per annum cement factory was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari few months ago to be precise January 2022.
