By Aniefiok Christopher
Three persons were roasted to death in a gas explosion in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The sad incident which took place at 24 Nwaniba Road in Uyo, the state capital happened when one Utibe sparked a match stick on his gas cooker and it exploded, burning him and his friend, one Enwongo beyond recognition.
When Straightnews reporter visited the compound on Thursday, October 14, the half brother of the landlord who did not want his name in the print conducted the reporter round the scene of the tragedy.
He narrated ”The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 6 in the morning. One Utibe, a 21-year-old man was the tenant. He stayed in the one-room apartment with the two sons of the landlord- a 27-year-old Enwongo and a 25-year-old Menyene.
”It was learned that Utibe wanted to prepare food, eat and leave for work. When he struck a stick of match on the gas cooker, it exploded. Unknown to him the gas had leaked, he put on the fire on the cooker.
”I was staying in my room. I heard a large explosion. By the time I rushed out to the room, there was a veil of thick smoke all over the room. Fire was raging. No one could enter. We had to call the Fire Service and the staffers rushed down and put off the inferno that could have razed the building.’’
Our reporter discovered that the walls of the one-room apartment were charcoaled while the ceilings peeled off to the floor.
When our reporter visited Akwa Ibom Fire Service headquarters along Dominic Utuks Avenue, Uyo on Monday, October 18, some senior staffers who spoke on condition of anonymity since their director had gone out confirmed the invitation to the compound and how they extinguished the fire that would have razed the entre building.
In an interview with Straightnews, Mr. Ofonmbuk Jonah, the landlord, confirmed the incident, lamenting that he lost two of his sons in the incident.
Jonah who is also an indigene of Ikot Ekpot in Nsit Atai Local Government Area recalled that one of his children died on the spot while another who was in critical condition and taken to Mercy and Grace Hospital, Idoro Road in Uyo later died on Thursday, October 14.
He has, therefore, appealed to the state government and public-spirited individuals to assist him to rent a shop in another location for his shoe-making business and to settle the huge medical bill.
