Tragedy struck in the early hours of Tuesday in the Abakpa area of Kaduna North Local Government Area, Kaduna State, as an explosion reportedly claimed the lives of two children and left several others injured.
The explosion, which occurred near the old site of the Nigerian Defence Academy, threw the neighbourhood into chaos, with residents initially fearing the worst. Those feared dead were identified as Imam, aged 13, and Nasrin, aged 6, while three others sustained injuries in the incident.
Eyewitness accounts suggested the explosion happened suddenly, sending panic throughout the area. A resident, who pleaded anonymity, described the scene as harrowing.
“I was taking my bath when I heard the explosion and ran out to see what had happened. I saw one of the affected victims, Imam, and tried to take him to the hospital but he died before we got there,” he recounted.
However, the Kaduna State Police Command has offered a counter-narrative. In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, the incident was attributed to the accidental discharge of a locally fabricated firearm, commonly known as a Dane gun.
According to the statement, the firearm discharge resulted in the death of a 12-year-old boy identified as Abubakar Muhammed of Josawa Road. Seven others reportedly sustained varying degrees of injuries and are currently receiving treatment in undisclosed medical facilities.
“On 22nd April 2025 at about 0830hrs, the Police received a distress call regarding a suspected blast in the Josawa Road area of Abakpa, Kaduna. In response, a team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Kawo Division, was immediately dispatched to the scene,” the statement read.
“The Commissioner of Police, Garrison Commander, State Director of the Department of State Services, and the Chairman of Kaduna North Local Government have all visited the scene and conducted a thorough on-site assessment.
“Contrary to initial reports, experts confirmed that the incident was not an explosion. Preliminary investigations conducted by the Officer in charge of the Police Anti-Bomb Squad indicate that a locally made firearm (Dane gun) was discharged, resulting in the unfortunate loss of life.”
While residents insist that the blast was massive and unexpected, the police urged the public to remain calm, promising to provide timely updates as investigations progress.
The statement continued: “Further investigations and assessments are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident. The Police Command extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured.”
The incident has stirred anxiety within the Abakpa community, as residents remain in shock and mourning. Community leaders and residents alike have called on authorities to intensify security measures and clamp down on illegal firearms.
Meanwhile, this incident has added to Kaduna’s long history of tragic explosions. In 2012, a suicide bombing targeting Christians during Easter Sunday service claimed 38 lives. Again in January 2020, a gas explosion linked to illegal decanting of Liquefied Petroleum Gas in the Sabon Tasha area of the metropolis resulted in several casualties.
The Kaduna Police Command reiterated its commitment to ensuring public safety, even as concerns mount over the proliferation of locally made weapons and the need for tighter regulations.
Residents, while mourning the latest tragedy, are urging the government and security agencies to act swiftly to avert a recurrence.
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