A local tea seller caused an explosion of fuel tankers in Niger State on Saturday, while trying to heat some water to make tea for his customers.

Having caught fire through the heat that emanated from the tea seller’s coal pot, the fuel tankers burst into flame.

The explosion reportedly occurred at Badegi town around Badegi-Bida road in Katcha Local Government Area of the state.

According to Nigerian Tribune, the Director General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Malam Ahmed Ibrahim Inga, stated this in an interview on Saturday in Minna, the state capital.

He said: “The fire was caused by a local tea seller who wanted to light his firewood to warm the water for his customers in order to make tea for them, but unknown to him, a tanker lorry nearby was loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), was leaking.”

The NSEMA boss stated further that five loaded tankers also burst into flames while the tea seller who got injured was quickly rushed to Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Bida for medical treatment by some sympathisers near the scene of the explosion.

Inga, however stated that no residential buildings or commercial outlets were burnt, and no life was lost to the unfortunate incident.

He said, “my agency is in contact with our desk officer at the local government area, who in collaboration with other officials are presently handling the situation.”