Tragedy in Kano as 1 killed, 6 injured in scrapyard explosion

Panic gripped the Kofar Dawanau area in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State on Monday evening, June 30, as a deadly explosion ripped through a local scrapyard, killing one person and injuring six others.

The incident occurred around 5:30 PM as workers were unloading materials from a semi-trailer with registration number PKM 709 ZY. Eyewitnesses described the terrifying moment the blast occurred, throwing metal fragments in all directions and sending residents fleeing in fear.

“I just heard a loud bang, and everyone started running,” one eyewitness recounted. “It was chaos. Some people were bleeding, and we didn’t even know what had happened at first.”

Preliminary investigations by the Bomb Disposal Unit of the Nigeria Police Force confirmed that the blast was caused by an old hand grenade inadvertently mixed with other metallic scrap items

According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, the unfortunate victim has been identified as 55-year-old Hamisu Uzairu, a labourer from PRP Kwanar Jaba Quarters in Nasarawa Local Government Area. He was confirmed dead at Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano.

Six other individuals sustained varying degrees of injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the same hospital.

Those injured include Sani Ahmed, Najib Sani, Jabir Tijani, Wada Abdullahi, Huzaifa Yusha’u, and Bilyaminu Snu.

The owner of the scrapyard, Jamilu Zakari Salisu, promptly alerted the Dala Divisional Police Headquarters, leading to the immediate cordoning off of the area by security operatives.

Investigations have commenced to trace the source of the grenade and ascertain if other explosives are in circulation.

It would be recalled that on June 21, another explosion rocked the Hotoro Eastern Bypass area in Kano, claiming at least five lives and leaving 15 others injured.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kano State Police Command has yet to release an official statement regarding the latest incident.