ENUGU, Nigeria (ChatnewsTV) — Gunmen on Friday set fire to Pinnacle Filling Station, allegedly owned by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, destroying four vehicles in a brazen attack along Agbani Road, officials and witnesses said.
The attack, which occurred around 10 a.m., caused panic in the area as customers fled in different directions. Witnesses said the assailants, numbering four, arrived in a Toyota Corolla and immediately took control of the station.
“They snatched the nozzles from the pump attendants and used them to splash fuel on the cars near the pumps before setting them on fire,” a witness said.
The attackers also poured fuel from a 25-liter can on three vehicles at a nearby car wash, setting them ablaze before fleeing the scene.
Emergency responders from the Enugu State Fire and Emergency Service were seen battling to contain the flames. The Enugu State Commissioner of Police led a team to assess the damage caused by the attack, which left four vehicles burnt beyond recognition.
While the fire was eventually extinguished, the attack sent shockwaves through the area, forcing nearby businesses to close, and residents to flee. Police cordoned off Agbani Road, diverting traffic to alternative routes.
This marks the second time the station, reportedly owned by Governor Mbah, has been targeted. In June of last year, another Pinnacle station in New Haven was attacked, though police foiled an attempt to raze it completely.
The attacks are believed to be linked to Governor Mbah’s ongoing efforts to combat insecurity and the sit-at-home orders in Enugu State, which have unsettled criminal elements.
