Panic gripped residents and commuters in Kaduna State in the early hours of Sunday after three luxury buses were destroyed in an explosion at Mando Motor Park.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the affected vehicles, belonging to Silver Transport Company, were reportedly powered by compressed natural gas and had been parked ahead of scheduled interstate trips.

The explosion reportedly occurred around 3:00am, sending shockwaves across the busy transport hub and nearby communities.

Eyewitnesses told PUNCH Metro that the loud blast forced residents and passersby to flee for safety, fearing further explosions.

A manager with one of the logistics companies operating within the park, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the incident, said the explosion occurred while the buses were stationary.

“The explosion happened when the vehicles were parked. They were preparing for this morning’s trips,” the source said.

He disclosed that the buses were newly acquired, describing the incident as both shocking and unfortunate.

“Thank God no one was inside the vehicles. They were parked ahead of boarding passengers this morning,” he added.

The source, however, raised concerns over the increasing use of compressed natural gas-powered vehicles, warning that more awareness and safety measures were needed.

“These vehicles use CNG. We are not mature enough to handle them. There should be more safety checks,” he said.

Although no casualties were recorded, the explosion caused significant damage, leaving the buses completely burnt and disrupting activities within the motor park.

Traders and transport operators in the area reportedly suspended operations temporarily as security agencies moved in to secure the scene.

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force were deployed to the motor park shortly after the incident, cordoning off the area to prevent further danger.

Other emergency responders were also seen at the scene, assessing the situation and ensuring that no additional risks remained.

A security source told our correspondent that preliminary investigations had commenced to ascertain the cause of the explosion.

“The police and other relevant agencies are already investigating the incident. We want to determine whether it was due to a technical fault or any other factor,” the source said.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident, while security presence remained high around the motor park.