The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, mni has set-up a Special Investigation Team to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the unfortunate tragic explosion that occurred at Ogbese near Akure, the Ondo State Capital on Friday, 27th March, 2020, Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba said in a statement Monday.
According to Mba, the Team which is headed by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CP Maikudi A. Shehu, is made up of police officers from the Police Bomb Disposal Squad (Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit). The unit is a specialized arm of the Police that oversees explosives and ordinance operations of the Force including controlled detonation, safe evacuation, sweeping, assessment, analysis, intelligence and investigations touching on bombs and all forms of explosives related incidents.
The Investigation Team, the spokesman added, will work jointly with experts from the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) – the nation’s leading Research and Development Institution that is the sole repository of all geo-scientific data. The Agency has a state-of-the-art laboratory with the capacity and expertise to carry out a wide range of geo-scientific examinations including Laboratory/Forensic Examinations, Geochemical Analysis of Rocks, Minerals, Water, Sewage, Soil Samples and Site Investigations amongst others. The IGP hopes that with the involvement of NGSA, the quality and integrity of investigations into the explosion will be greatly enhanced.
The IGP however enjoined the citizens especially those living around the scene of the incident to avoid the area so as not to tamper with the scene of incident and the ongoing investigations.
Meanwhile, the IGP also sympathized with the government and people of Ondo State particularly victims that sustained injuries or lost their property as a result of the incident. He called for calm and assured that the outcome of investigations will be made public.
