No fewer than two persons have been confirmed dead following an explosion at a filling station in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State on Friday, April 17, 2026.
Bellnews learnt that three other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in the incident, which occurred in the Daffo community.
Residents, including the Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in the area, Kefas Mallai, confirmed the incident to The PUNCH in Jos.
Mallai said the explosion happened at a filling station identified as Natty Filling Station while maintenance was being carried out on an underground tank.
According to him, the victims were working on a leaking section of the tank when the explosion occurred.
Providing details, Mallai said the deceased were a welder and his apprentice who had been engaged to fix the faulty tank.
He said, “Today, Friday 17th April, 2026, two persons died, and three others were injured at Daffo Town of Bokkos LGA, Plateau State, as an underground tank of Natty Filling Station exploded during welding maintenance.”
He added that the workers had assumed the tank was empty and posed no risk.
“There was no fuel in the tank, and because of that, they thought there was no problem. But as soon as they started work on the tank, it suddenly exploded with fire everywhere, killing the two artisans instantly,” Mallai explained.
Mallai further disclosed that three persons who were standing nearby at the time of the explosion sustained injuries
The injured victims were immediately taken to a hospital for medical treatment.
He also noted that residents and sympathisers had gathered at the scene shortly after the incident.
“Residents and sympathisers who heard of the explosion have just gathered at the scene at the moment,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The identities of the deceased and injured persons could not be immediately ascertained.