An explosion rocked Ojodu Abiodun, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State on Sunday, November 27, 2022, causing tension among residents.
Daily Post reports that the residents of the area said they are yet to find out the cause of the explosion.
The residents feared that the loud bang they heard in the early hours of Sunday might be a bomb blast.
But the Ogun State Police command said, “the explosion was as a result of chemical reaction that occurred in the compartment of a refuse dump.”
According to the command’s Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun, Lanre Bankole, when he was informed about the explosion, quickly directed the Explosive Ordinance Department to the scene so as to unravel the real cause of the scary sound.
“The finding of the team was that the explosion was as a result of chemical reaction that occurred in the compartment of refuse dump, being the refuse dumping ground within the Tarmac along the River Valley Estate,” he stated.
The police spokesperson maintained that the explosion was not an attack as speculated by many, saying it occurred in the midnight when there was nobody within the scene.
Oyeyemi stated that no component of Improvised Explosive Device, IED, was found at the scene or anywhere within the area, adding that no life or property was lost as a result of the explosion.
In view of this, Oyeyemi urged Ogun residents to go about their lawful businesses, saying the said “area has been declared bomb-free by experts.”
Yobe: 7-Year-Old Pupil Injured Following Explosion In Damaturu
A seven-year-old Almajiri pupil has been injured after a suspected explosive device detonated at Nayinawa forest area of Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.
The incident is said to have occurred around 9 am on Sunday when a heavy sound was heard in the area causing the residents to scamper for safety. However, there was no reported loss of life.
Although the cause of the incident is still unclear, the Police Public Relations Officer in Yobe State, Dungus Abdulkarim told Channels Television via telephone conversation that the Anti-Bomb Squad has been dispatched to the scene of the incident.
“Yes, we are aware of the incident, but the information is still sketchy. We have dispatched our Anti-Bomb Squad to the scene, and we will inform you of the outcome,” the police spokesman said.
“The victim has been taken to hospital for medication because he was the only person injured.”
Some eyewitnesses further claimed a chisel and knife were found on a mat where the incident happened.
“It’s been a long time since we heard of such a panicking sound. I was going to the market when the incident happened and on reaching the scene, I saw a chisel and knife among other tools,” a resident, identified as Adamu Hassan said.
Meanwhile, the victim has since been rushed to a specialists’ hospital in Damaturu for medication.
Yobe is one of the states in the North-East affected by the over a decade-long Boko Haram insurgency. Other states are neighbouring Borno and Adamawa.
It has yet to be ascertained if Sunday’s explosion is linked to the insurgents.
The incident is coming about seven months after a similar explosion occurred at a relaxation centre in the Abasha Ward, Gashua Local Government Area of Yobe State.
During the April 24 attack, one person was confirmed dead with seven others injured in a pub some residents were drinking.
Source: Daily Post
