The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has revealed that a recent explosion in Sabon Pegi, within the Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, was triggered by the illegal stockpiling of explosives by a local resident named Yushua Maikampala.
This tragic incident resulted in the deaths of three individuals and the destruction of approximately 40 houses.
In a statement released by Segun Tomori, the minister's Special Assistant on Media, it was confirmed that Maikampala had been accumulating explosives unlawfully in his residence. Preliminary investigations suggest he was involved in the purchase and storage of these hazardous materials.
Following the explosion, which eyewitnesses reported was caused by an electrical spark around 7 AM on Sunday, officials from the Federal Mines Office were dispatched to assess the situation on-site.
Local resident Ibrahim Mustapha noted that over 40 people were affected by the explosion, which devastated the residential area. The minister expressed his condolences to the victims' families and emphasized that this incident could have been avoided due to negligence regarding the handling and illegal storage of explosives.
Alake has directed relevant officials, including those from the Mines Inspectorate Department, to conduct a forensic analysis of soil samples from the blast site to trace the source of the explosives. Security agencies are actively pursuing Maikampala to ensure he faces justice for his actions.
