Police in Kano on Monday said that the explosion that occurred on May 17 in Sabon Gari area was from materials suspected to be used for making improvised explosive devices, not gas cylinder as earlier claimed.
The Command’s spokesman Haruna Kiyawa said in a statement that the development followed the outcome of an investigation by special teams in the Police Force.
The statement revealed the victims of the explosion as Ejike Vincent (welder), Michael Adejo (chemical seller), Musa Kalla (tea seller), Christiana Abosede, Mary, Austin Dada, Madam Owoleke, Omo Ben and Bose Oladapo.
Kiyawa said that “preliminary investigation revealed that among the nine victims of the explosion, one of them dealt in illicit storage of toxic chemicals and other hazardous materials.
“He was later identified as Michael Adejo (now late). Items recovered at the scene include five bottles of different brands of Acidic Liquid, three bags of Potassium substance, one Jeri can of mixed chemicals, six and a half cartons of Snuff (Tobacco) and five drums of Polymer (Chemical).
“Technical Investigation conducted by the command’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence, EOD-CBRN, revealed that the explosion is suspected to have occurred as a result of mixed Chemical/Gas reactions exposed to a source of heat, such as fire, spark or increase in pressure resulting in combustion/shock waves, creating an explosion which can have shattering effects.
“Meanwhile arrests have been made linking one of the collapsed shops with dealings in sales of illicit, toxic chemical substances and combustible materials suspected to be used for making Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs,. Evidence of purchase was also recovered. An investigation is in progress.”
This is coming as President Muhammadu Buhari visited Kano on Monday and paid a visit to the scene of the explosion.
