There was pandemonium in Benin City, Edo State capital on Tuesday as an explosion destroyed about five houses in Sakponba area of the city.
Residents of Zomi Street in Upper Sakpoba Road ran for safety when they heard the loud noise that came with the explosion at about 3p.m. as many took to their heels claiming that Boko Haram insurgents had invaded the city.
A police source at the scene said: “We learned that the bungalow where the bomb detonated was being used as a hideout for kidnappers some months ago. But a combined unit of soldiers and police invaded the place and arrested the suspects.
“So recently, somebody hired the building and just this afternoon, decided to burn refuse in the compound. He set the refuse on fire and went out to buy something.
“Immediately he left, the bomb exploded. He was not aware that the kidnappers, who once used the house, had left some bombs behind.”
At the time of filing this report, bomb disposal experts from the Edo State Police Command have cordoned off the building, trying to ascertain if more bombs were still inside.
The tenant who resides in the building, was taken away while one woman, said to have sustained deep cuts, was rushed to the hospital.
-Vanguard