A gas plant exploded at Orji, in Owerri, Imo State, killing four persons. This occurred three days after a truck, laden with diesel, rammed into an 18-seater and burnt 19 people to death.

Policemen from the Orji division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Ude Umanta, a Superintendent of Police, as well as others drafted from the command headquarters, were seen on the ground.

Diamond and First bank branches located around the filling station were forced to close for the day, as their facilities were affected by the explosion.

It was learnt that some bank customers and motorists, who wanted to fuel their cars, were injured and rushed to a hospital.


After about an hour, the corpses were taken to a morgue. By then, men of the Imo State Fire Service had also arrived at the scene.