There was palpable trepidation in Babura Local Government Area of Jigawa state on Tuesday following a gas explosion.
Five people were injured during the explosion which was said to have been caused by suspected smuggled gas.
The spokesman of the The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state, CSC Adamu Shehu, confirmed the incident in Dutse on Tuesday.
He disclosed that the explosion also damaged shops and houses.
Also, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Lawan Shiisu, confirmed the incident.
He said that 17 shops and five houses were damaged by the inferno caused by the explosion.
According to Shehu, the incident occurred on Monday at 9.00 pm after security operatives on stop-and-search in the area flagged down a truck conveying 25 gas cylinders.
He said that the driver of the truck refused to stop, hence he was pursued by the security operatives. As a result, one of the gas cylinders fell off the truck and caught fire immediately.
The spokesman added that the vehicle was coming from Tinkim town in Magarya Local Government Area of Niger Republic and was heading toward Hadejia LGA of Jigawa.
He said that the victims were currently receiving treatment at the Babura General Hospital.
Similarly, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Lawan Shiisu, also confirmed the incident.
Shiisu said that the vehicle was being pursued by a team of operatives from the Nigerian Customs Border Drill No. 12 while transporting the gas from Niger Republic. (NAN)