Kebbi Explosion: Govt, Police Deny Bandits, Airstrike Involvement
Birnin Kebbi — The Kebbi State Government and the State Police Command have dismissed claims linking the recent explosion at Bagudo General Hospital to bandit attacks, a bomb blast or a military airstrike.
The government said the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, was the result of a fire outbreak involving gas cylinders and not any form of hostile action.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Yakubu Bala-Tafida, stated this while addressing journalists in Birnin Kebbi. He explained that preliminary investigations by security agencies revealed that the explosion originated from a fire at the hospital’s staff quarters.
According to him, residents of the affected area had already been evacuated before the fire escalated, adding that no life was lost in the incident.
“The Kebbi State Government wishes to categorically state that the explosion was not caused by bandits, bomb devices or helicopter activity as being speculated on social media. It was purely an accidental fire incident,” Bala-Tafida said.
The Kebbi State Police Command corroborated the government’s position, urging residents to disregard unverified reports capable of causing panic.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, said technical findings by operatives, including the Explosive Ordnance Disposal–Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) unit, confirmed that the explosion was triggered by overheated gas cylinders used for hospital facilities.
“The loud sound heard by residents was a result of gas cylinders exploding during the inferno. There was no bomb, no airstrike and no criminal attack,” Usman said.
He warned against the spread of misinformation, noting that false reports could undermine public peace and security.
The state government assured residents that security agencies had secured the area and that further investigations were ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire, while reiterating its commitment to the safety of lives and property.