The Kano government has called on residents to remain calm after Tuesday’s explosion in the Sabon Gari area of the State.
This was contained in a statement by Muhammed Garba, the state’s Commissioner for Information, on Tuesday in Kano.
Mr Garba said that the situation had been brought under control, as security agencies had taken over the area for rescue operations and investigation.
He also faulted the claim that the explosion occurred in a school, saying that it happened near an animal feed store opposite the school on Aba Road, Sabon Gari, Kano.
He said that while the cause of the explosion and the damages were yet to be ascertained, however, investigation has commenced.
He urged residents, especially those living in the area, to remain calm, saying that the government was working with relevant security agencies to restore normalcy.
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The police command in the state had confirmed the killing of four persons following the incident.
In the meantime, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it has recovered nine dead bodies from the scene of the explosion.
A statement by NEMA’s spokesperson, Manzo Ezekiel, revealed that the Director-General, NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed, was at the site of the incident and coordinated rescue operations.
The statement reads:
9 dead bodies have been recovered so far from the rubbles of a collapsed bulding beside a primary school following explosions from gas cylinder at Aba Road in Sabon Gari area of Kano.
Director-General National Emergency Management Agency, Mustapha Habib Ahmed, was at the site of the incident and coordinated the rescue operations. He mobilised excavators being used for the rescue operations and said NEMA team will ensure complete removal of the rubbles to retrieve all trapped persons.
Furthermore, the DG instructed the NEMA rescue team to remain at the site until conclusion of the rescue and to work together with security agencies and other response organisations present at the location.
NEMA is presently coordinating the rescue operations involving members, Nigerian Red Cross, military, the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Kano SEMA.
