The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed a late night suspected gas explosion at a drinking joint in Kabba, in the Kogi West area of the state.
There were, however, conflicting figures of casualties with the police confirming the death of one person, while an eyewitness told our correspondent that three people were killed.
It was gathered that one of the victims, identified simply as Aisha, was a bar assistant who was warming pepper soup on a gas cylinder which exploded.
She was said to have been rushed to a hospital, but gave up the ghost, while two others reportedly died on the spot.
Our correspondent also gathered that a brother of the bar owner, who was on a visit, sustained serious injuries as his two legs were shattered.
A statement on Thursday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, said the state Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka, deployed personnel in the scene.
He noted that the victims were evacuated to a hospital, adding that normalcy had been restored in the area.
“During the process, one Aisha, who was injured by the explosion and evacuated to a hospital with others injured, later died. Others are receiving treatment.
“The Commissioner of Police directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Investigation, to commence investigation into the incident along with personnel of the Explosives Ordinance Department to unravel the cause of the explosion,” the statement added.
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