Bomb blast injures two in Benin

Strange blast explosion on Tuesday rocked Upper Sokpoba area of Benin-City leaving not less than five houses damaged.

BusinessDay gathered that the explosion which occurred at Zumi Zumi street around the popular “three house” junction off,Upper Sokponba road in Ikpoba Okha council took place at about 2 pm.

It was gathered that no life was lost but about two persons were however said to sustain various degree of injuries.

The injured ones are a chemist, who lived in the house and a passers-by woman.

It was learnt that the blast occurred when one of the occupants of a residential building wanted to burn some refuse gathered after sweeping when the explosion went off.

The occupant was simply identified as Elue Chinedu, a Chemist operator and an indigene of Delta state.

Narrating his ordeal, Elue Chinedu disclosed that he entered the compound about nine months ago and that he had called in an electrician to do some minor repairs in his living room.
He said he had lit fire to burn the rubbish he swept that the bomb went off.

Elue who also sustained injuries in the process said his co-tenants, a couple, were not in the house when the incident happened.

” I have been staying in the house for the past nine months, An electrician came to work in the house and I said let me use the opportunity to clean the compound. I gathered the waste papers together and wanted to burn it. As I was burning the papers I said let me go and buy ice cream; before the thing exploded and I sustained some injuries.” he said.

The injured victims were taken away from the scene of the incident by Police officers from the state command possibly for medical attention.

Meanwhile men of the Anti- bomb squad from the Edo State Police Command who cordoned off the area, however donated another while mopping up the area at about 6:16 pm.

The anti- bomb squad and anti riot policemen from the state police command were led by a Deputy Commissioner of police, Musa Uba.

Efforts to get the comment of the state commissioner of police, Chris Ezike yesterday evening were not successful.

IDRIS UMAR MOMOH