A sand dredger, Oladele Pius, was killed yesterday after an explosion under the FESTAC Link Bridge in Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Lagos State. A police inspector, Akin Sunday, also sustained a serious injury in the explosion that caused panic in the area.
Pius, who was the branch Chairman of Sand Dredgers in the area, was torn apart. According to eyewitnesses, rescue workers found it difficult to carry Pius’ remains and had to use shovels to pack them in different body bags. They (eyewitnesses) said the inspector’s legs were shattered, while his eyes and hands were affected by the explosion.
The explosion which occurred at about 12pm, caused panic because many of the residents and passersby had speculated that the explosion might have been as a result of terrorists’ activities. They reportedly fled the area.
Dogo, one of the deceased’s workers, described him as a kind-hearted man, adding that he was survived by five children and two wives.
It could not be ascertained who planted the explosive, but the police denied that it was a bomb. Commissioner of Police for the state Police Command, Umar Manko, said full investigation had commenced to unravel the cause of the explosion.
He said, “Contrary to people’s fear that it was a bomb blast, it was a mere electrical fault at the Amuwo Odofin Bridge. Anti-bomb experts have been called in to assess the situation and I will be adequately briefed later. From the investigation so far, it has been revealed that it was neither a terrorist attack nor an act of Boko Haram. It was also not a bomb blast. It is not a question of letter bomb. This is not an incident that will attract fear. The state is not under any attack from anywhere.”
The scene of the explosion had, however, been cordoned off by the Bomb Disposal Unit of the Nigeria Police and officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency.
Via Punch
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