Police hunt mastermind in Niger explosion

The Niger State Police Command launched a manhunt for the owner of the dynamites that exploded in Sabon Pegi, Mashegu Local Government Area, killing one person and injuring six others.

The explosion occurred on Sunday in a residential area where a man identified as Yushau allegedly stored the explosives for mining activities.

The blast destroyed about 40 residential buildings and caused significant damage to property.

Confirming the incident, the Niger State Commissioner of Police, Shawulu Danmamman, disclosed that the explosion claimed the life of Fatima Sadauki, while six injured victims were rushed to the General Hospital, Kainji, for treatment.

“On January 26, 2025, at about 7:30 a.m., there was an explosion of suspected dynamites in Sabon Pegi, Mashegu LGA, reportedly stored in a residential area by one Yushau for mining activities,” Danmamman stated.

“The explosion led to the unfortunate death of one Fatima Sadauki, while six others sustained injuries. Twelve houses in the area were also destroyed. Our Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear unit has been dispatched to assess the scene. However, the suspect, Yushau, is currently at large. Normalcy has been restored, and we continue to monitor the situation.”

The police commissioner urged the community to provide timely intelligence to help prevent such incidents.

He emphasised the importance of community collaboration, stating, “If the community had informed us about the nature of Yushau’s activities, this tragedy could have been averted. When people see something, they should say something to ensure safety.”

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency have deployed teams to respond to the disaster.

In a statement on Monday, NEMA revealed that its Minna Operation Office was working with NSEMA to address the aftermath of the explosion.

“The dynamites were reportedly stored by a local artisan miner in a rented apartment for his workers. The explosion affected several residents and destroyed properties,” the statement read.

Both agencies are collaborating to provide emergency relief to victims and assess the extent of the damage.