At least eight people have died at the .University of Bening Teaching Hospital following kerosene explosions that rocked communities in Delta and Edo states in the past two weeks. The deaths were as a result of the severe burns sustained by the victims from the explosion.
The kerosene explosions occurred in Oghara, Delta state and Benin city, the Edo state capital. Six children of a police officer, Hope Adeleke, who lived in Oghara, the headquarters of the Ethiope West local government area of Delta state all died as a result of the explosion while cooking with with their mother in the kitchen with a kerosene stove. The children died at the hospital due to the severe burns they sustained when a fire sparked by the explosion ravaged their home.
The mother of the six deceased children, Edna Adeleke, who was also a victim, is still receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of the Accident and Emergency Ward of UBTH.
Another woman whose identity could not be ascertained also died last week at the same hospital as a result of a kerosene explosion. The woman and one of her children were rushed to UBTH from Ekehuan village near Benin city following injuries they sustained from an explosion. The child was said to have survived after receiving treatment and has since been discharged.
Over the weekend, a 12-year-old girl from Kwale, Ndokwa West local government area of Delta state also died when a kerosene explosion reportedly occurred at her home. She was rushed to UBTH where she died.
According to the director-general of Save Accident Victims of Nigeria, Eddy Ehikhamenor, the 12-year-old received 93 degrees of burns on her body. Mr. Ehikhamenor called on the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation to warn all dealers and retailers against the adulteration of kerosene.
He queried the high cost of kerosene presently selling at between N130 and N150 per litre, just as he requested the NNPC to embark on an analysis of the kerosene currently on sale to ensure that the product does not have a mixture of petrol. Kerosene, the nation's main source of cooking for most families across the nation has been scarce, leading to a price hike.
