Vandals caused explosion near Bauchi poly, says police
An explosion caused by an improvised explosive device has destroyed a high-tension electric transmission pole in the Unguwan Kanawa area near the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, in Bauchi State.
The explosion was said to have been caused by yet-to-be-identified suspects who used an explosive to vandalise government property.
Although there was no human casualty as a result of the explosion, our correspondent learnt that a high-tension pole of an electricity transmission line was destroyed.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Command, Ahmed Wakil, who confirmed this in a statement titled, ‘Destruction of public property by suspected vandals,’ on Saturday, said the incidence occured on thursday night
He said the Chief Security Officer of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, who reported the incident to the police said that a loud sound was heard around the Ungwan Kanawa area.
“On February 1, 2024 at about 10 pm, the Bauchi State Police Command received a report from the Chief Security Officer of Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, indicating that on the quoted date, a loud sound was heard around an electric high-tension transmission line situated at Anguwan Kanawa area, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis.
Upon receiving the report, a team of police operatives, including the specialised personnel from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Chemicals Biological Radioactive and Nuclear Unit, was drafted and deployed to the scene immediately.
Consequently, preliminary investigation revealed that a high-tension pole collapsed and was damaged as a result of explosives used by suspected economic vandals. Furthermore, the vicinity was cordoned off and swept by operatives,” he said.
The PPRO said that “some remnant components of IEDs were recovered from the scene”.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police, Auwal Muhammad, who condemned the act in its entirety, directed a discreet and full-scale investigation into the incident to ensure that the perpetrators were arrested and brought to justice.
The spokesman added, “The Commissioner of Police Bauchi State Command, CP Auwal Mohammed, has vowed to sniff out all criminal merchants desperate to make a living on government or private property installed to improve the living conditions of citizens of the state.
“Hence, the CP sought continued collaboration and support from the members of the public to secure the lives and property of the people.”