An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) allegedly placed in a gutter adjacent to the Army Barracks, Bukavu in Kano exploded on Wednesday night near the Dantata shopping complex around 9pm.
Nobody was said to have been hurt in the blast but people were seen running helter-skelter for safety to avoid falling into the debris of some of the collapsed structures affected by the blast.
The area which has always been busy with vehicular traffic was deserted following the heavy explosion as people ran in different directions.
According to an eye witness, there were no casualties, but resident of the area were thrown into panic as a result of the explosion.
Spokesman of the joint Military task force (JTF), Lieutenant Ikedichi Iweha, confirmed the explosion, saying “the explosion occurred adjacent to the army barrack in Bukavu at nearby shopping complex inside a gutter”.
Soldiers have since cordoned off the area of the explosion barring civilians from staying around.
In a related development, the Kano Command of the Nigeria Police Force have discovered three abandoned bags of Tetro Nitro Toluent (TNT), a highly explosive substance, valued at over N9 million.
The substance according to the State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim K. Idris is capable of causing heavy explosions because it is believed to be used for the preparation of Improvised Explosive Devices [IEDs].
Speaking to journalists, the Police Commissioner, stated that the 3 bags of TNT and PETN were capable of causing serious destruction on life and property.
The commissioner who was visibly happy that peace is gradually returning to the ancient city after the January 20, attacks said there was no threat to security of lives and properties in the state in the last few weeks.
He said the police have started removing check points in some major roads, allowing free movement of motorists to various parts of the state.
He said, even the heavy presence of security personnel on the streets of Kano had reduced significantly.
Meanwhile, a suspected Boko Haram member yesterday went to the house of a retired civil servant located at Bulunkutu area of metropolis with a tricycle, popular known as KEKE NAPEP, and shot him dead.
The Joint Task Force (JT) had earlier cordoned the area after the killing of one of the sect members in the evening. During the searching in area, a tricycle which was used for the operation by the terrorists was recovered. Meanwhile the JTF said that search for the other fleeing sect members was ongoing.
