Days after an explosion in Akure, Ondo State capital, the driver, identified as Isiaka Yinusa, who drove the truck carrying the explosives said that he was unaware that the truck contained explosives.
The explosion took place in the early hours of Saturday, March 28, on Akure Owo Expressway, Ilu Abo town, Akure North Local Government.
The impact of the explosion left many injured, including the driver, Yinusa who lost consciousness and was rushed to the hospital, and destroyed not less than 70 buildings in the community.
In the cause of the investigation by the team which was set up by the Inspector General of Police Abubakar Adamu, and led by the Deputy, Abdulmajid Ali, the driver explained that he was hired to transfer a consignment from Ibadan to Auchi, Edo State. He added that the consignment was escorted by certain police men.
He said, “We got to Akure around 6pm and we took time to relax at Shasha market area where we planned to sleep and continue the journey the following day. So I slept inside the vehicle.
“As I was sleeping inside the truck, I heard a knock on the vehicle door by someone who informed me that smoke was coming out from under the vehicle.
“We quickly moved. The policeman that led the team said we should move ahead. As we were moving on, the policemen in the escort said that I should stop. As we got down, I saw fire coming out from the vehicle. We brought out fire extinguishers to put it out.
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“As we were doing that, suddenly the policemen shouted that everybody should run. As I was running, I heard a bang and noticed something in my abdomen. That was all I knew and the next thing was that I woke up in the hospital.”