KANO — A deafening explosion suspected to have been triggered by a military-grade mortar bomb shattered the early morning calm in a residential neighbourhood of Kano State on Saturday, claiming the lives of at least five people and leaving 15 others with severe injuries.
The powerful blast sent shockwaves through the community, unleashing chaos and fear as residents scrambled for safety. Thick plumes of smoke billowed into the sky as emergency teams, including police, soldiers, and paramedics, raced against time to rescue survivors and cordon off the area.
Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, who rushed to the scene moments after the incident, confirmed the casualties and revealed disturbing details pointing to a trailer suspected to be transporting military ordnance.
> “I received an urgent call about a serious incident. On arrival, I was confronted with what appeared to be the aftermath of a suspected explosion—possibly from a military mortar bomb. We have confirmed five fatalities, and 15 people have sustained varying degrees of injuries,” Bakori told reporters.
According to him, the injured victims were immediately evacuated to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment, while investigators began piecing together what led to the explosion.
> “We are still gathering facts, but initial findings suggest that a trailer possibly originating from Yobe State may have been transporting the explosives. However, we have not yet established whether the trailer belonged to military personnel or private contractors,” he added.
The police chief emphasized that investigations were ongoing to determine the exact cause of the explosion and the source of the deadly cargo.
> “Security agencies are working diligently to uncover the truth. We urge the public to remain calm and cooperate with authorities,” Bakori assured.
This tragic incident comes barely 24 hours after a deadly suicide bombing rocked a bustling evening fish market in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, in what security sources believe to be the handiwork of Boko Haram insurgents.
The bomber, disguised as a civilian, infiltrated the crowd before detonating an explosive device, killing at least 10 civilians and injuring seven others.
> “The suicide bomber also perished in the explosion,” said counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama.
Swift response teams, including Nigerian Army personnel and emergency medical workers, were immediately deployed to the Konduga scene to evacuate the wounded and restore order amid the chaos.
Eyewitnesses recounted the horror in both incidents—scenes of lifeless bodies, people screaming in agony, and streets littered with debris as smoke choked the air and sirens blared.
With two deadly explosions in two days—one in the North-West and the other in the North-East—security analysts are raising fresh concerns about the proliferation of explosives, lapses in ordnance transportation, and the looming threat of insurgency.
As Kano mourns its dead and authorities dig deeper into the explosion, Nigerians are once again reminded of the fragility of peace and the urgent need for tighter security measures, particularly in the handling and movement of dangerous weapons.
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