Kano Residents, Police Disagree Over Explosion

Kano Residents, Police Disagree Over Explosion

Residents close to the scene of the explosion in the city of Kano are dismissing a statement by the police that the explosion may have been caused by an explosion of a gas cylinder.

The police also added that four people have been confirmed killed in the explosion.

A welder, close to the site of the explosion, told PREMIUM TIMES that the explosion occurred from a building close to a nearby school.

He said there was no gas shop in the area that will result in such destruction.

Similarly, a female resident, who refused to state her name, said she does not believe the explosion was caused by a gas explosion.

“How can they say is a gas explosion, it’s not, she said, how can a gas explosion dismember a human and take him to metres far away,” she said.

“It’s a suicide bomber who struggle to enter the school before the explosive got detonated, this is purely a bombing explosion, not gas,” she added.

She said some windows of the school and neighbouring houses were shattered.

Mustapha Habib, director-general, National Emergency Management, told reporters at the scene of the explosion that people are feared trapped under a flattened building.

He said others have been evacuated and taken to the hospital.

Mr Habib said details of the casualties will be released after the rescue workers conclude their work.

The police commissioner in Kano, Sama’ila Dikko, the Director of State Security Service and all service chiefs in the state were at the scene of the explosion.

Kano state deputy governor, Nasiru Gawuna, also visited the scene of the explosion.