Explosion claims Black marketer’s wife, children in Lagos
A petroleum products black market operator, David Olabanji, has lost his wife, Rhoda, and his two children, during an explosion at his shop in the Dantata area of Satellite Town, Lagos State.
THECONSCIENCEng gathered that the incident which happened on Saturday took place at David’s shop where he has been dealing in the adulteration of petroleum products, among others with his family when the explosion occurred suddenly.
Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, a source said the black marketer’s wife and two children were burnt to death by the fire that razed the shop after she ran into the shop in an attempt to rescue their children who were sleeping inside.
The source said, “The man usually deals in the adulteration of PMS products, among others, in his shop. Around 4.30pm on the day of the incident, the man and his wife were outside the shop, while their children were sleeping inside when fire started burning the shop.
“The wife quickly rushed in to rescue her children but she was unlucky. She, alongside her children, got burnt to death by the fire. The man also made an attempt to rescue his family but he couldn’t.
“He sustained severe burns and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. The man was adulterating the PMS products around the shop when the explosion happened.”
The source explained further that David’s wife and children came to visit him from Ibadan, Oyo State, adding that people in the area were aware of his black market business dealings.
During a visit to the scene on Sunday, an eyewitness, Aliu Danjuma, told our correspondent that emergency responders, including officials of the state fire and rescue service, police, who stormed the shop, put out the fire.
Danjuma, who was seen operating a grocery store in the area, said the incident happened on Saturday, adding that David had been involved in the black market of petroleum products in the area for a while.
He said, “Due to the presence of tankers around the neighbourhood, he always gets products to sell. That man sells oil, petrol, diesel and other things to people in the community.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.
He said David would be investigated for engaging in such an illicit act, adding that he was still undergoing treatment in a hospital.
He said, “The man has a case to answer. He is in the hospital receiving treatment but he has a case to answer. He is known for engaging in the illicit trade in the community. His wife and two children were with him when the fire incident started.
“The children were sleeping inside and the wife ran to rescue them, but got burnt to death alongside her children. The man’s family actually came to visit him from Ibadan. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.”
