A black market operator, David Olabanji, on Saturday, lost his wife, Rhoda, and his two children, during an explosion at his shop in the Dantata area of Satellite Town, Lagos State.

It was gathered that David, who had been dealing in the adulteration of petroleum products, among others, was at his shop with his family when the explosion occurred suddenly.

In a bid to rescue their children who were sleeping in the shop, David’s wife reportedly ran inside the shop.

It was also gathered that the black marketer’s wife and two children were burnt to death by the fire that razed the shop.

A source said, “The man usually deals in the adulteration of PMS products, among others, in his shop. Around 4.30 pm on the day of the incident, the man and his wife were outside the shop, while their children were sleeping inside when the fire started burning the shop.

“The wife quickly rushed in to rescue her children but she was unlucky. She, alongside her children, got burnt to death by the fire. The man also made an attempt to rescue his family but he couldn’t.

“He sustained severe burns and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. The man was adulterating the PMS products around the shop when the explosion happened.”

The source explained further that David’s wife and children came to visit him from Ibadan, Oyo State, adding that people in the area were aware of his business dealings.

During a visit to the scene on Sunday, an eyewitness, Aliu Danjuma, told our correspondent that emergency responders, including officials of the state fire and rescue service, and police, who stormed the shop, put out the fire.

Danjuma, who was seen operating a grocery store in the area, said the incident happened on Saturday, adding that David had been selling petroleum products in the area for a while.

He said, “Due to the presence of tankers around the neighbourhood, he always gets products to sell. That man sells oil, petrol, diesel, and other things to people in the community.

“In fact, whenever there is fuel scarcity, if you come to his shop, you will still get the products. It was just unfortunate that this thing happened to him and his family.”

Another eyewitness, a food seller, who does not want her name mentioned for security reasons, said David’s children were minors, adding that the condition of their father had been unknown to residents.

She said, “The shop where I sell food is just a few buildings away from the burnt house. The wife of the man who sells this petrol here, and the children she came with died in the fire that happened here. The wife brought the two small children from Ibadan to spend the holidays with their father but now they are dead.”

Another eyewitness, Janet Oluwawemimo, when the fire was burning, the deceased woman called for help but the intensity of the fire discouraged people.

“I was here when I started hearing people shouting that fire was burning but I did not know the fire was burning from our side. Immediately I realised that the fire was burning from our side, I ran outside to help so people could assist us in putting out the fire.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident.

He said David would be investigated for engaging in such an illicit act, adding that he was still undergoing treatment in a hospital.

He said, “The man has a case to answer. He is in the hospital receiving treatment but he has a case to answer. He is known for engaging in the illicit trade in the community. His wife and two children were with him when the fire incident started.

“The children were sleeping inside and the wife ran to rescue them, but got burnt to death alongside her children. The man’s family actually came to visit him from Ibadan. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.”