Eyewitnesses Blame Black-Maketer Over Fire Outbreak at AYM Shafa Filling Station
By Prosper Okoye –
A tricycle (KeKe) was ablaze at about 7:00pm on Thursday, February 24, at AYM Shafa filling station, Wurukum round about, Makurdi.
Eyewitnesses at the scene said the fire had started inside the filling station, when the tricycle was been attended to, before it was pushed out of the filling station, where it burnt out completely.
Mr. Austine Zuma and other eyewitnesses who spoke to the reporter, said the fire was caused by a spark from an iron generator fuel tank, that fell off from the hand of a black-marketer, as he struggled to buy fuel, amidst the long fuel queue at the station.
“It was God that saved us from getting killed by fire. The fuel nozzle was inside the KeKe, and I was standing close to the KeKe when the fire started.
“The fire was caused by one of these black-marketers that wanted to use a generator tank to buy fuel, as soon as he dropped it with force, it sparked fire and the KeKe began to burn.”
Mr. Zuma continued: “We all ran away at first; If not for that black guy there the entire filling station would had been affected,” he said pointing at one of the fuel attendants. “He brought a fire extinguisher to control the fire, before the KeKe was pushed outside the gate.” Zuma added.
At the time the men of the federal fire service came to the scene, the tricycle was completely burnt, and the fire had died out.
The tricycle driver was not at the scene when the reporter arrived.
AYM Shafa filling station manager, refused to speak about the fire incident.
