The Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, has set up a Special Investigation Team to unravel the immediate and remote cause of the explosion at Ogbese near Akure, Ondo state.
No fewer than 50 buildings were reportedly destroyed by the explosion which occurred on Friday cutting the expressway into two.
A press statement by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), DCP Frank Mba, Monday in Abuja, said: “The Team is headed by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CP Maikudi A. Shehu,”
He said the team is also made up of police officers from the Police Bomb Disposal Squad (Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit) which 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.
According to him, “The Investigation Team 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.”
He further stated that, “The IGP however enjoins 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 has 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 calls for calm and assures that the outcome of investigations will be made public,” the spokesperson said.
