Kerosene explosion kills 2 children in A-Ibom; father in critical condition

AN explosion caused by adulterated kerosene left two children dead, while three other persons, including father of the children, Nsikak Michael, suffered severe burns in Ikono Ibom clan in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.
Michael, a father of three and tricycle operator, who also has a poultry farm in Ikot Enyingne Ikono, said he bought the kerosene from a filling station along Idoro Road, while returning from work.
According to him, “on getting home, I decided to light up the lantern in my poultry farm to keep my birds warm. But I needed to add more kerosene to the lamp as the light was going out.
“So I came out of the poultry farm and my two children followed me. As I attempted to light up the lantern, there was a loud explosion with a terrifying flame. The flame left me unconscious.
“One of my children died few hours after the incident, while the other died the following day at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, where they were rushed to.”
The Uyo Transition Local Government Council boss, Mr. Mfon Ben, and his wife, visited Michael, who was still in a very critical condition at the hospital, where they also met a woman with a three-month-old baby from the same community that were victims of the same kerosene explosion.
The council boss, who frowned at the ugly and unfortunate incident, advised the public to be cautious and vigilant while buying kerosene.
“Government will make sure that the perpetrators of such act in the state are fished out and brought to book,” he said.