The FCT Police Command has disclosed that no fewer than five explosives have been retrieved from the site of the explosion which rocked Karu Town, an Abuja suburb.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr Olufemi Ogunbayode,? who briefed journalists in Abuja yesterday,? also disclosed that the owner of the explosion site had been helping the police with information on how the explosives found their way to a public space.
The reported bomb explosion in Karu had shattered the glass windows of a shopping plaza housing a Mr. Biggs eatery and other shops nearby, spreading panic among those around.
Ogunbayode, who told journalists that the command was still investigating the circumstances surrounding the explosion to find out if there are culpable persons, however, pointed out that such commercial explosives were permissible by law.
He said contrary to the initially impression, the explosion did not happen at Mr. Biggs, but in an uncompleted site behind the popular eatery.
“In the course of police investigation, the anti-bomb disposal unit was brought in and after combing the entire site, it was revealed that it was contrary to what we thought.
“Initially we thought it was canisters of disposed insecticide that caused the explosion, but at the end of it all we discovered it was a commercial explosive ignited by security guards, causing fire which engulfed the entire site.
“We have also spoken with the owners of the site who are giving us a clue as to how the explosives could have gotten there. Five other undetonated commercial explosives were recovered. I want to say that commercial explosives are permissible by law. They are used for rock blasting.
“While investigating the circumstances as to how the explosives got there, a security man told us how he ignorantly threw one of the explosives into the bonfire while clearing the sack,” Ogunbayode said.
The FCT police chief reiterated that there were no casualties from the incident and urged the residents to feel free to go about their lawful businesses without any fear.
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