Two Dead in Plateau Filling Station Explosion

On April 17, 2026, an explosion at a filling station in Plateau resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to three others. The incident occurred during routine maintenance when an artisan attempted to weld a leak in an underground fuel tank.

Kefa Mallai, the chairman of the community peace observatory in Bokko LGA, confirmed that the victims included a welder and his apprentice, who believed the tank was safe to work on as it was assumed to be empty of fuel. Unfortunately, the tank exploded while welding commenced, engulfing the area in flames and killing the apprentice instantly.

Three bystanders who were nearby during the repair work sustained varying degrees of injuries and were subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment. Mallai described the incident as unfortunate and called for improved safety measures during maintenance operations at fuel stations.