On May 17th 2022, an explosion happened on Aba Road, located in the Sabon Gari area of Kano State. The incident has divided opinions online as authorities and eyewitnesses have failed to agree on what caused the explosion.
What happened?
The story of what really happened in Sabon Gari depends on who you ask.
Initial reports that surfaced online said the explosion started at Winners Kids Academy. Eyewitnesses filmed dozens of injured schoolchildren at the scene of the explosion. Many of the early reports also noted that the explosion was set off by a suicide bomber.
An unconfirmed number of people were trapped under the rubble of a building that collapsed as a result of the explosion.
Hours later, the Kano State Government announced that a gas cylinder was the source of the explosion. The state’s Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, said the blast started at an animal feed store located opposite the school. The government asked that Nigerians be careful about spreading unconfirmed claims about the explosion.
The commissioner said, “While the cause of the explosion and the damage it had done is yet to be officially ascertained, an investigation has since commenced to determine the cause, impact, and measures to be taken.”
Emergency responders worked for hours to sanitise the scene of the explosion.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Sama’ila Dikko, further announced that the gas cylinder that exploded belonged to a welder. The welder was identified as Ejike Vincent and was confirmed dead at the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital in Kano.
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Who was affected?
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said in its incident report that nine people were killed in the explosion. 10 people who were injured were evacuated to hospitals for treatment, most of whom have been discharged, according to NEMA.
Some of the injured victims
