The powerful explosion at about 11:44 am Thursday at the Jimeta Divisional Police Headquarters, in Yola, Adamawa State capital was caused by bombs recovered from Boko Haram insurgents, Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Gazali has said.
A witness, Ibrahim Bello, a resident of the area, told Premium Times that the “blast is so powerful that all the glass windows and doors in our entire neighborhood have been destroyed”.
Bello also said there was serious panic around the area especially at the Central Primary School, directly opposite the police station, where pupils were attending classes at the time of the explosion.
But Police Commissioner Gazali told newsmen in Yola that the recovered bombs exploded from the store used by the Police Command to warehouse exhibits.
He said most of those affected by the blast were policemen.
“Policemen were mostly affected and we don’t know the actual casualties for now as the place is not yet safe for us to go in,” Gazali said.
NAN reports that the explosion also affected the walls of Majalisa Primary School where some pupils were injured.
The state Commissioner for Information, Malam Ahmad Sajoh confirmed that the pupils sustained minor injuries and had been treated and discharged from hospital.
NAN reports that the station where the blast occurred contained offices of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Motor Traffic Department (MTD) and the police tailoring section.
Meanwhile, the incident has led to hurried closure of markets and schools in the area as residents scamper home for safety.
-NAN