Two victims of the gunpowder explosion that struck the Talata Mafara weekly market in Zamfara State have succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto.
The deceased, Muhammad Lawal Matusgi and Sani Adamu Kanarkalgo, were among those transferred to Sokoto after suffering severe burns in the Tuesday morning blast.
The explosion, which occurred around 11:30 am, left over 50 traders and customers injured, particularly in the section of the market where locally made guns are sold.
A health worker at the General Hospital, Talata Mafara, who preferred to remain anonymous, revealed that the hospital was already operating beyond capacity before the incident occurred.
“We received many victims, some with first-degree burns, but due to a lack of space and resources, we had to refer several others to Sokoto,” he stated.
Confirming the situation, the Divisional Secretary of the Red Cross, Mu’azu Yusuf, noted that former Governor Abdulazeez Yari provided vehicles to transport all the injured to Sokoto for advanced medical care.
A local government employee, also speaking anonymously, described the explosion as a tragic event that affected other parts of the market.
“This is the biggest market in our area, and many people had raised concerns about the presence of Dane gun dealers, but nothing was done by the authorities.
“Just last year, a young girl was killed due to an accidental discharge in the same section of the market. We are calling on the government to relocate the gun sellers to a safer place outside town,” he said.
However, he dismissed suggestions to prohibit the sale of Dane guns, arguing that they are essential for rural communities in their fight against banditry.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Zamfara State Police Command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the explosion but stated that he had yet to receive a full report on the incident.
“I just returned from Abuja, but I will get the full briefing from the Divisional Police Officer in Talata Mafara and provide an update,” he said.
