No fewer than nine persons have now been confirmed dead following yesterday’s explosion which occurred at Aba Road in Sabon Gari area of Kano.
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs confirmed this figured in a statement on Tuesday.
They clarified that the bodies were recovered from the rubble of a collapsed building beside a primary school on Tuesday evening.
Africa Today News, New York reports that the police earlier said the explosion was triggered by gas cylinder and not a bomb as being speculated.
‘It is not a bomb explosion, it is a gas explosion,’ Commissioner of Police, Sama’ila Dikko, said in a voice recording which was obtained by Africa Today News, New York. ‘A gas cylinder explosion’ he added.
‘Because there is a welder, just by the place, and he is the first victim in this situation.’
Dikko further added that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, was also investigating what led to the gas cylinder explosion.
He maintained that the scene was under control.
The blast, which occurred on Tuesday morning, affected some buildings and left several injured, including school children.
According to the state commissioner for information, Muhammad Garba, the incident happened at an animal feed store opposite the school along Aba Road, Sabon Gari area of Fagge local government.
In a statement, Garba called on the people in the state particularly those living in the area where the incident occurred to remain calm while government, in collaboration with relevant agencies, are working on the matter.
The commissioner assured that government would keep the public abreast on any development and warned people to desist from spreading unsubstantiated news.
Meanwhile, many Nigerians gave gone on social media to express doubts about the explosion with many insisting that it was most likely a bomb explosion.