THE Kano State Police Command has confirmed that nine unexploded ordnances (UXOs) have been recovered at the site of Saturday’s deadly explosion at Yongxing Steel Company in Mariri Quarters, along Ring Road in Kano.
This newspaper reports that the blast, which occurred around 11:30 a.m. on June 21, claimed the lives of five persons and left several others injured.
According to the police, the explosion was not caused by an IED bomb as initially feared but by a UXO that accidentally detonated during the offloading of scrap materials.
Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Hussaini Abdullahi, In a statement on Monday, said investigations by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Unit revealed that the UXOs were unknowingly transported from Yobe State alongside metal scrap.
“Post-blast investigation reveals the explosion came from an Unexploded Ordnance (UXO), not from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) as was initially speculated,” the statement said. “A total of nine UXOs have now been recovered from the scene.”
Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has extended condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for quick recovery of those injured and were receiving treatment at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
The police urged residents to remain calm, noting that there is no imminent security threat, and advised the public to report any suspicious items or activity.
