The Kano State Police Command has confirmed that the recent explosion at a steel manufacturing facility was caused by military-grade unexploded ordnance (UXO) that was accidentally transported to the site, not a terrorist attack involving an improvised explosive device (IED), as was initially feared.
The explosion occurred on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Yongxing Steel Company, located along Ring Road in Mariri Quarters, on the eastern bypass of Kano. In a statement issued by the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Hussaini Abdullahi, the police explained that the explosive material had been unknowingly carried along with scrap metals sourced from Yobe State.
The detonation happened during the offloading process, triggering a blast that killed five people and left several others injured. Emergency teams from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Unit were deployed to the site, where they initially recovered seven UXOs. A further two devices were later discovered, bringing the total to nine recovered explosives.
In response to public anxiety, the police assured residents that there was no ongoing security threat and that the incident was not related to terrorism or insurgency. The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased and wished the injured, who are receiving treatment at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, a speedy recovery.
The Command also appealed to the public to remain calm, continue their daily activities without fear, and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities. They emphasized that ongoing investigations are focused on tracing the source of the UXOs and preventing similar incidents in the future.
