An explosion caused by an Improvised Explosive Device has destroyed a high-tension electric transmission pole situated in the Unguwan Kanawa area near Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi.

The explosion was said to have been caused by yet-to-be-identified persons who used explosives to vandalise government property.

Although there was no human casualty, however, a high-tension pole of the electricity transmission line was destroyed.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Command, Ahmed Wakil, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in the state on Saturday.

Wakil, in the statement entitled, ‘Destruction of public property by suspected vandals,’ said that the incident occurred on Thursday night.

He said the Chief Security Officer of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi who reported the incident to the police stated that a loud sound was heard around the Ungwan Kanawa Area.

“On February 1, 2024, at about 10 p.m., the Bauchi State Police Command received a report from the Chief Security Officer of Federal Polytechnic Bauchi indicating that on the quoted date, a loud sound was heard around an electric high tension transmission line situated at Anguwan Kanawa area, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis.

“Upon receiving the report, a team of police operatives including the specialised personnel from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Chemicals Biological Radioactive and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Unit was drafted and deployed to the scene immediately.

“Consequently, preliminary investigation revealed that a high tension pole collapsed and was damaged as a result of explosives used by suspected economic vandals.

“Furthermore, the vicinity was cordoned off and swept by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Chemicals Biological Radioactive and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Operatives.”

The police spokesman said that “some remnant components of Improvised Explosive Devices were recovered from the scene.”

According to him, the state Commissioner of Police, Auwal Muhammad, who condemned the act, ordered a discreet and full-scale investigation into the incident to ensure that the perpetrators were arrested and brought to justice.

He said that the CP charged the people of the state to help the police with useful information that will aid investigations and equally urged them not to panic as a result of the incident but to go about their lawful businesses as the situation has been put under control.

“The Commissioner of Police Bauchi State Command, CP Auwal Musa Mohammed, has vowed to sniff out all criminal merchants desperate to make a living on government/private property installed to improve the living conditions of citizens of the state.

“Hence, the CP sought continued collaboration and support from the members of the public to secure the lives and property of the people,” Wakil said. (Saturday PUNCH)

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