Ado Ekiti was thrown into chaos today after a powerful explosion rocked the old secretariat of Ekiti State Government.
There were no casualties, but the explosion, which occurred around 7.05am at the Explosion Ordinance Disposal Unit situated at the old governor’s office located in the Oke Ori-Omi area of Ado Ekiti metropolis, reduced the EOD building to rubble and shattered the windows and ceilings of the government offices compound.
The offices adjoining the office of the Nigerian Union of journalists, Correspondents’ chapel, Ekiti chapter were also badly affected.
Ekiti State Police Commissioner, Mr Asuquo Amba, and officers of the anti-bomb squad were seen at the scene of the incident, removing some of the explosive materials.
Amba informed the press;
“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 devices 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”
Governor Kayode Fayemi and his deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, who visited the site for an on-spot assessment, commented that the anti-bomb department shouldn’t have been located in the area. According to them, “it ought to be in a far distance”.
Additional photos from the scene of the incident are shown below;
