By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
A gas explosion on Tuesday at the Alake Sports Complex, Ijeja, one of the key venues for the ongoing National Sports Festival in Ogun State, and ruptured the excitement of athletes and spectators.
The explosion let off balls of flame and smoke into the sky, compelling panic – stricken athletes, spectators and residents nearby to scamper for safety in different directions, according to multiple sources.
The Daily Crucible gathered that the incident occurred around 3 p.m. when a gas truck supplying the complex’s generating set exploded after it suddenly caught fire.
There has not be any report of casualty, as men of the State and Federal Fire Service operatives are already on ground to contain further spread and put the situation under control.
However, emerging details revealed that millions of naira of worth of goods, shops, including furniture workshop, were destroyed when the diesel truck exploded into balls of flame.
It was learnt that the explosion followed a fire that erupted from underneath the truck marked: LND 898 YJ as it tried to discharge its content into one of the storage facilities of the Sports Complex.
The development forced the driver of the truck to move inside and drove it few metres away from the perimeter fence of the Sports Complex before it exploded and consumed about 17 makeshift shops erected by traders in the area.
A witness, Mrs. Oladehinde Omobolanle, said her two shops where she sells GSM phone accessories, a chemist shop and a POS Center were affected, adding
that about N50, 000 from the day’s sales was burnt in the incident.
However, Ogun State government has allayed the fear of insecurity over the explosion.
In a “No Cause For Alarm” statement issued yesterday and signed by the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade assured assured athletes participating in the National Sports Festival, as well as the residents of the state of their safety.
Akinmade in the statement, commended the promptness and proactiveness of the fire service in the state and the vigilance of officials at the complex, assuring participants at the sports festival of total safety.
“The incident this afternoon involving a gas tanker close to one of our facilities for the National Sports Festival was very unfortunate. We thank God that the fire was immediately put out to avert any casualties.
“To this end, we want to assure all our athletes and the people of the state of safety and that there is no cause for alarm as the situation is under absolute control “, the statement read.
