By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
The Kano State Police Command has confirmed that Saturday’s tragic explosion at Yongxing Steel Company in Mariri Quarters, Kano, claimed the lives of five people and left 15 others injured.
In a statement titled “Factory Explosion at Yongxing Steel Company: Kano State Commissioner of Police Visits Scene; Directs Investigation”, the Police Public Relations Office disclosed that the incident occurred while a truckload of scrap metal from Damaturu, Yobe State, was being offloaded at the factory premises.
According to the statement signed by Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Hussaini Abdullahi, the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, led a rapid response team, including Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) units, to secure the area and conduct a preliminary assessment.
“The scene was immediately cordoned off to prevent further harm,” the statement said, adding that five suspected explosive devices were safely recovered by the EOD team without causing additional injuries.
The police said the blast caused varying degrees of injuries to 15 individuals, who were rushed to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for urgent medical attention and that unfortunately, five of the victims died during treatment, saying that the remaining ten were reported to be responding to care.
Bakori has ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident and appealed for public cooperation.
“We urge residents to remain calm, be vigilant, and report any suspicious activity that could aid our investigation,” the statement read.
The Command also released emergency contact numbers—08032419754, 08123821575, and 09029292926—for members of the public to provide relevant information.
The explosion has stirred concern across Kano, raising urgent questions about the safety of industrial scrap transport and factory handling protocols.
