The explosion that rocked Akure, the Ondo State capital early this morning, Saturday March 28, was caused by a faulty vehicle transporting explosives to a storage facility in a neighbouring state.
Confirming this at the scene of the incident few hours ago, the governor told reporters that the vehicle broke down while in transit along the Akure Owo Road, close to Ilu Abo, home town of former Secretary to the Federal Government and Presidential candidate, Chief Olu Falae, and barely two kilometres away from Akure Airport.
Akeredolu who spoke during his assessment tour of the incident’s scene, said that the situation report showed that a truck laden with dynamites being transported to the neighbouring Edo State from Lagos State had developed a fault at the spot and exploded around 1am.
The governor said the explosion, which destroyed several buildings, happened in the process of fixing the vehicle.
His words: “I have been briefed by the security chiefs that in the early hours of Saturday, March 28th, a vehicle in a convoy transporting explosives to a storage facility in a neighbouring state developed a fault while in transit along the Akure Owo Road about two kilometers from the Akure Airport.
“Security personnel and other individuals transporting the ordinances noticed smoke from the vehicle. After several attempts to extinguish the resulting fire failed, the vehicle and its consignment ignited causing a massive explosion that was felt in Akure and its environs.
“Presently, efforts are being made to ascertain if there are casualties.
“I have directed that the area be cordoned off to allow the explosive ordinance department/bomb squad to extricate the vehicle buried underground because it is unclear if there are still explosives that are yet to be detonated.
“Everything is under control and I will be updating the public on any new developments.”
He warned the people of the state to stay away from the spot where the vehicle exploded, advising them to maintain a respectable distance to avert another disaster should another explosion recur.
“Do not also forget that coronavirus is in the country. I thank God that there has not been any recorded case in Ondo State,” he added.
Akeredolu said: “We will advise all citizens, all residents of Ondo State, not to come near this place at all, they should vacate and move out of this premises.
“As we are told, the vehicle that was carrying these explosives is buried in the crater it created, so we never know what number of explosives are left.
“Let everybody give the police, the bomb squad, space to do their work and we will know what to do,” he said.
“Right here where we are standing, we are not safe, tell the people to move back and allow police to bring out the vehicle that is buried there,” he said.
No life was lost, but many houses were damaged.
The explosive made a large excavation on the road and the impact was felt kilometres away from the scene.
Residents have since been trooping to the area, which has been cordoned off by policemen.
