Explosion in Azare Not Terrorist Attack, Says Bauchi Gov

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, yesterday said  explosion that happened in Azare, the headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area of the state was not connected to a terrorist attack.

The governor stated this when he visited the Emir of Katagum, Alhaji Umar Farouk II to commiserate with him and the people of the area over the incident.

Mohammed said he was in the area to commiserate with the Emirate over the explosion and robbery of a Point of Sale (POS) operator in Zaki Local Government Area of the state on Friday where four people were injured and hospitalised in the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Azare.

He said that his administration was conscious and passionate about security of lives and property of the people of the state.

“The Bauchi state government is ready to ensure safety of lives and property in the state and we will also double our efforts to make sure that those that are far away from the state capital are given special consideration.

“I would like to appreciate His Royal Highness, the Emir of Katagum for being passionate about the security of the people in the Emirate.

“We, as a government, promise to provide more support to the security agencies in the state so as to enable them to perform their duties effectively,” he said.

Also, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Aminu Alhassan, explained the explosion which happened on January 22 was as a result of dynamites that were kept in an old structure for over 30 years by a construction company.

He said the people in the area were trying to clear the bushy  old structure by putting fire on the grasses which led to the explosion of the dynamites.

The CP, who explained that even though the explosion destroyed the structure completely, said no casualty was recorded.

He urged the people of the area as well as the state at large to remain calm as the situation was under control, adding that the structure had been cordoned.

Responding, the Emir lauded the governor for his prompt response to the issue, adding that his actions had demonstrated that he was passionate about the well-being of all the people of the state.

The governor visited the explosion site as well as the victims of the robbery at the Federal Medical Centre, Azare, where they were receiving treatment.

(ThisDay)