Korede Abdullah in Lagos
A gas explosion rocked Ijora Badia in the Apapa Iganmu Local Council Development Area of Lagos State on Sunday afternoon, leaving 15 people with various degrees of burn injuries.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the incident occurred around 4:10 p.m. in a mini shop containing five 25kg gas cylinders.
While no fatalities were reported, the Service confirmed that 15 people suffered injuries, though none were life-threatening.
The explosion took place within a bungalow that housed 15 self-contained rooms and seven additional shops, causing panic in the densely populated area.
Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, revealed that the explosion resulted from mishandling of gas products, which led to a leak that was ignited by a nearby flame.
“It was a case of poor handling of gas products, which unfortunately allowed gas to escape and come in contact with a flame. This triggered the explosion,” she explained.
She added that swift intervention by emergency responders prevented the situation from escalating. “The resulting fire was swiftly extinguished, and the remains of the gas cylinders were safely evacuated. The danger was completely averted, and normalcy has since returned to the area,” Adeseye stated.
Some victims received first aid on the spot, while others were taken to nearby hospitals for further care.
The prompt response involved firefighters from the Sari Iganmu Fire Station, along with officials from LASEMA, LASAMBUS, and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps.
This incident follows a tragic gas explosion on the Otedola Bridge in March 2025, which claimed five lives.
