A fuel-laden tanker on Saturday exploded at Sabongarin Dabai in  Zuru local government area of Kebbi state, killing six people and injuring several others.

THISDAY checks revealed that the incident occurred around 7pm when Muslims were preparing to break the day's fast at the Dabai-Suru road junction about 200km from the state capital, which serves as a market, especially for fresh fruits and other food items.

An eye witness in the area, Malam Danjuma Zuru, told THISDAY that the tanker was heading to Koko town when the driver of the vehicle lost control while trying to ascend the hilly Dabai junction, and the tanker skidded and exploded.

According to him, the accident also left several houses and three vehicles parked by the roadside destroyed while meat sellers were affected as the fire gutted their shops.

Zuru disclosed that as a result of the explosion many shops were gutted while six people lost their lives and several injured.

The Kebbi Deputy Governor, Samaila Yombe, who hails from Dabai, has already visited the scene of the accident to condole with relatives of the victims.

Yombe said the State Emergency Management Agency had been directed to provide relief materials to those who lost shops and property as a result of the incident.