The Kebbi State Police Command said on Tuesday that is has launched a full-scale investigation into the early morning bomb explosion that rocked the General Hospital in Bagudo to determine the source of the blast.
Relieved that no causalities were recorded, the police authorities said the scene had been cordoned off and warned residents to stay away from the immediate vicinity of the hospital to avoid obstructing security operations.
The blast, which reportedly hit part of the hospital’s staff quarters, caused panic among staff and residents in the area.
A report by The Guardian said that on Monday, residents in Gebbe in the Shanga Local Government Area of the state were thrown into a panic when some gunmen attacked the community, leaving residents scampering to neighbouring villages and nearby bushes.
According to reports, the assailants entered the community without warning, firing sporadically and causing panic among residents.
The incident forced many to abandon their homes in search of safety.
In a statement confirming the incident, spokesperson for the Command, Bashir Usman, a superintendent of police (SP) said security operatives moved in swiftly and secured the area to prevent further threats while a joint team of police, military personnel and vigilante operatives cordoned off the scene.
Usman said “The Kebbi State Police Command wishes to assure members of the public that we have full control of the security situation following the explosion at the General Hospital, Bagudo”, adding that specialists from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal–Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear unit had been deployed to assess the blast site as part of ongoing investigation.
The police spokesman said, “We are grateful to confirm that there were no casualties. Although a building within the staff quarters was damaged, the occupants had already evacuated safely”.
Usman said the state Commissioner of Police has ordered additional tactical deployments to maintain order and restore confidence within the community.