Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has revealed that the explosion in Sabon Pegi, Mashegun Local Government Area of Niger State, was caused by the illegal storage of explosives by a resident.
In a statement released on Monday, Segun Tomori, the minister’s media aide, stated that preliminary investigations identified one Yushua Maikampala, a resident of New Bussa, as the individual responsible for stockpiling explosives in a house within the community.
Witness accounts indicate that the explosion, which occurred at approximately 7 a.m. on Sunday, was triggered by an electrical spark.
The blast destroyed 20 buildings and resulted in the deaths of at least two people.
Expressing condolences to the victims, Alake described the incident as preventable, attributing it to negligence in the handling and storage of explosives.
“The minister has directed officials of the mines inspectorate department to conduct a forensic analysis of soil samples from the site to determine the source of the explosives. This will guide the government’s next steps,” Tomori stated.
Alake also assured the public that security agencies are working to apprehend the suspect, adding, “He will be brought to justice.”
The minister emphasized the government’s dedication to ensuring compliance with environmental and safety standards in mining operations.
He reiterated that strict measures are essential to prevent such incidents in the future.
