The Niger State Police Command has reported that a dynamite explosion in Mashegu Local Government Area on Monday claimed one life, injured six others, and destroyed 12 residential buildings. The explosives, allegedly stored by an individual identified as Yushau for mining purposes, detonated in the Sabon-Pegi community.
Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Shawulu Danmamman, stated on Tuesday, “On January 26, 2025, at about 7:30 am, there was an explosion of suspected dynamites at Sabon-Pegi, Mashegu LGA, reportedly stored in a residential area by one Yushau for purported mining activity.
“The explosion led to the unfortunate death of one Fatima Sadauki, while six others were injured and taken to General Hospital Kainji for medical attention. About 12 houses were also affected by the incident. The EOD-CBRN unit of the Command has been dispatched to the scene for assessment, but the said Yushau is currently at large. However, normalcy has been restored in the area, and monitoring continues.”
Danmamman emphasized the importance of community cooperation in preventing such tragedies, urging residents to promptly provide intelligence to law enforcement. “If the community had identified the owner of the dynamite and informed the police of the kind of business he was engaged in, we could have arrested the suspect, evacuated the items, and avoided this unfortunate incident,” he said.
The Commissioner reiterated the need for vigilance, saying, “When people see something, they should say something for the safety of our community.”
The police have launched a full investigation to apprehend the suspect and ensure the safety of residents in the area.
