KEROSENE EXPLOSION KILLS 15 YEAR OLD GIRL IN EBONYI, 2 SISTERS HOSPITALISED

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

A fifteen year old girl has died while two of her siblings suffered severe burns following a suspected adulterated kerosene explosion at their home in Ebiaji Noyo in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

A resident of the area, Mr. Israel Mbam, told Radio Nigeria that one of the victims purchased the suspected adulterated kerosene from a nearby Nwele Market and poured the product into their lantern.

He noted that it was while they were trying to light up the lantern that the adulterated product exploded, killing one of them while the survivors were rushed to a nearby health centre.

The Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area, Chief Steve Orogwu, said the suspected adulterated kerosene had been mopped up and the matter reported to the police while the dealer had been arrested.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Mrs. Loveth Oda, said though the matter was not reported to the police, the Divisional Police Officer in Noyo had moved in to arrest those behind the sale of the product in the area.

She said a sample of the product would be collected for forensic analyses.

Radio Nigeria gathered that the condition of the victims was critical and required quality medical attention.