BOMB OR SCRAP: Police to investigate Kano explosion
The Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Ibrahim Bakori, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the explosion at Yongxing Steel Company, located along Ring Road in Mariri Quarters, Kano.
The incident was reported by the company’s Marketing Manager, Ibrahim Udazu, who said the explosion on the factory premises caused multiple injuries.
Bakori led a team of first responders, including operatives from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit and the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear response team to the scene.
He said, “Police secured and cordoned off the area to prevent further harm. The EOD unit recovered five suspected explosive devices from the scene without incident. Preliminary investigations revealed that the explosion occurred during the offloading of scrap materials from a truck that arrived from Damaturu in Yobe State.
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Fifteen persons sustained varying degrees of injuries and were taken to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Five of the victims later died, while others are currently receiving treatment.’’
The CP urged the residents to remain calm and vigilant and to cooperate with the police to help determine the cause of the explosion.
The command urged members of the public to report suspicious activity or provide relevant information to the police through the following emergency numbers: 0803 241 9754, 0812 382 1575, 0902 929 2926.
The explosion has remained unexplained, with some saying it was caused by a military mortar that was transported to by alleged non-state actors, while some said it was caused by scrap materials. The scrap theory is obviously unbelievable considering the impact of the explosion. Even the Commissioner of Police did not give in to that assumption ab initio.
