The ongoing fuel scarcity across the country has claimed the lives of a couple in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
The deceased, a petrol seller, Gideon Pam, and his wife died when fire broke out from their kitchen, where fuel was hoarded in their apartment in Zawan community of Jos South local government area of Plateau.
However, NAN reported that their baby survived.
A witness and neighbour, Shantel Alphonsus, claimed Pam ran an illegal petrol business at Zawan Junction.
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“In the morning, he was called upon to get more supply from a fuel station, so he rushed back home to get some empty gallons to hoard scarce petrol. In a bid to empty some of the gallons that had fuel in them, suddenly there was fire outburst in the kitchen where the gallons were kept and Pam was trapped,” stated Ms Alphonsus.
She added, “His wife, Mercy, who had gone out earlier returned and saw smoke emitting from the house. She went into the house to save her husband, but was equally trapped in the inferno.”
The witness added that the couple left a four-month-old baby taken away by Mr Pam’s mother before the fire.
Caleb Polit, the Director of Plateau Fire Service, confirmed the incident and expressed regret that the couple were burnt beyond recognition and the apartment razed before firemen could reach the scene.
