Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has explained that the early Saturday morning explosion in Akure was caused by explosives.
According to him, a consignment of explosives being transported to a neighbouring state for storage accidentally ignited when the vehicle conveying it developed fault and caught fire.
The Governor gave the explanation after being briefed about the incident.
He said: “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 2km 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.
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“Presently, efforts are being made to ascertain if there are casualties.
“Following my visit to the scene, 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”.
The explosion destroyed several residential houses, a school and some churches.
