Five persons have been killed and 15 others wounded in an explosion in Kano on Saturday.
The explosion occurred at a metal scrap collection centre situated at the Kano Eastern bypass Saturday morning.
The explosives were suspected to be from a military-grade mortar bomb in brought to the center as scrap.
Residents of the affected area were thrown into panic as the sound of the explosion rocks the area a situation drew the attention of some security personnel and medical teams.
On the scene, the Police Commissioner in Kano, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori who arrived at the scene shortly after the explosion said the blast may have been from a military ordnance believed to have been improperly handled at the centre by the workers.
“I received a call that something serious had happened. When I arrived, I found that it was a suspected explosion which possibly may be from a military mortar bomb brought to the centre as scrap. Fifteen people were injured, and unfortunately, five lost their lives,” the official said.
He further explained that the situation is still under investigation, adding that the vehicle involved may have come from Yobe State adding that the victims were quickly evacuated, with some taken to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention
According to one of the workers at the centre Anas Sani, the centre has been receiving scraps from Maiduguri and Yobe state since the banning of scrap business in Maiduguri. He revealed that by all indications the scraps from Maiduguri are being illegally transported to Kano.
It was however gathered that authorities are yet to confirm the exact cause of the explosion or the ownership of the vehicle conveying the explosives.
