There was palpable tension in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, on Saturday as substance suspected to be bomb exploded at the Old Governor’s Office, destroying properties.
Eyewitnesses disclosed that the explosion which occurred around 7: 50am caused panic as it shattered glass materials in the area, damaged vehicles and destroyed other properties. The impact was also felt over two kilometres from the location.
It was gathered that the explosion occurred particularly at a building which housed Ordinance Explosive Disposal Department (EoD) of the Ekiti Police Command, situated within the premises.
The area, located at Oke Ori Omi area of the Ado Ekiti metropolis, is where the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs is located.
Some of the buildings affected were the offices of the Nigerian Union of journalists, Correspondents’ chapel, Ekiti chapter; Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Boundary Commission; and the ICT department.
Splinters of louvres, damaged roofing sheets, shattered doors and vehicles’ windscreen, and other materials also littered the area as affected individuals flocked the premises to count their loses.
As of 10.00am, the police Commissioner, Mr Asuquo Amba, and officers of the anti-bomb squad were still removing some of the explosive materials in the area.
Governor Kayode Fayemi and the Deputy Governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, also visited the site of the explosion.
Fayemi, however , said the EoD office shouldn’t have been located in the area, saying it should have been situated ‘in a far distance’.
While addressing newsmen at the site of the blast, Amba, said he suspected the explosion was caused by counter-terrorism accessories kept in office.
He said: ” Let my men from anti-bomb department check around. Officers of the anti-bomb are combing the place as you can see.
“This is the office where they keep detonation accessories. The explosion must have been caused by equipment kept in their stock house.
“The area has been cordoned off. We are going to devise means of ensuring Improvement in the stocking of these equipment next time.
“We are happy that there is no loss of life, no casualty. Some of these devises are used to detect bomb and to detonate it. Some of them used to detonate on their own and that must have caused the explosion.”
Meanwhile, the state’s Commissioner for Information, Muyiwa Olumilua, has issued a statement on the incident.
”An explosion was reported earlier this morning at the Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) office in Ado Ekiti.
“An initial on-the-spot assessment confirms that there are no casualties and the area is secured with no further threats.
“Members of the public are advised to go about their normal duties,” the statement said.