Tragedy struck Obinwanne community in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State on Thursday when an explosion killed a man and left two passers-by injured.
A disturbing video of the incident seen by Naijaonpoint online, which quickly circulated on social media, showed the victim writhing in pain with his legs shattered by the blast.
Unidentified residents whose voices are heard in the clip alleged that the deceased, identified as Chinworeke Mmadu, may have been attempting to plant the explosive device in a nearby market before it detonated.
Some residents also claimed he was linked to a terror group parading as Biafra agitators.
Confirming the incident in a terse statement, the spokesman of the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, said preliminary findings revealed that the victim was carrying the device when it “exploded prematurely.”
“On receipt of the distress call, operatives from Njaba Divisional Headquarters immediately mobilised to the scene,” Okoye stated.
He added that the injured passers-by had been rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Okoye further disclosed that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Hamzat Abdulkadir, led operatives of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit to the scene.
“The area was carefully swept and has been declared safe for public use,” he said.
The Commissioner of Police in Imo, Aboki Danjuma, prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured and reassured residents of the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
He urged the people to remain calm, security-conscious, and to provide timely information to aid police operations.
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