An high-tension electric transmission pole in the Unguwan Kanawa neighbourhood close to Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, was destroyed by an improvised explosive device explosion.
Unidentified individuals were allegedly responsible for the explosion, utilising explosives to deliberately damage government property.
There were no human casualties, but the high-tension pole of the electricity transmission line was destroyed.
In a statement made available to state media on Saturday, Ahmed Wakil, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Bauchi State Command, revealed this.
Thursday night was the date of the incident, according to Wakil’s statement titled “Destruction of public property by suspected vandals.”
He asserted that the Chief Security Officer of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, who reported the incident to the police, stated that he had heard a loud noise in 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.”
He claims that in order to make sure that the offenders were apprehended and brought to justice, the state commissioner of police, Auwal Muhammad, who denounced the act, ordered a covert and thorough investigation into the incident.
He said that the state’s citizens have been charged by the CP to provide the police with helpful information that will aid investigations. He also urged the public not to panic as a result of the incident, but to carry on with their legal business since the situation has been brought 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.