At least one person has been confirmed dead after a fire outbreak hit an engine oil depot in Kano State.
Several buildings accommodating the facility were also wrecked by the raging fire.
The depot located at Hotoro Eastern by-pass is purported to be a warehouse where debased fuel is being stored.
Eyewitnesses who wished to be anonymous have said that the fire began at about 10:45 after a petrol tanker was parked inside the depot which was also serving as a garage.
“Normally the owners use this place to taint engine oil. They do this by storing it inside different water tanks and after selling it, they bring another one.” the eye witness said.
As to the cause of the fire outbreak, the eyewitness claimed that they do not know what caused a spark leading to the fire.
Firefighters from the state fire service immediately rushed to the scene to put out the fire even as residents of the area ran away to safety.
One of such residents, Sani Shitu, who knew the victim revealed that the deceased was not dealing in engine oil but had been working as a crane vehicle assistant. And that he was invited to lift a petrol tank for repair before the eventual fire began.
The spokesman of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, while confirming the incident had said the fire started while the engine oil was being loaded into smaller tanks.
“One person had died on the spot but we were able to put out the fire before it could cause further damage to the houses nearby,” Abdullahi concluded.
