BENIN CITY-A deafening bang at a private residence suspected to be Improvised Explosive Device (IED) factory has killed one in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State

The tragedy occurred last Monday morning even as the identity of the victim remained unknown at press time yesterday.

It was learnt that the explosion shocked the building and it’s neighborhood promoting residents to scamper for safety.

The apartment is said to be occupied by some men from Kogi State who operate the IED factory unknown to residents of the area.

One person was said to have been arrested by locals and handed over to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area.

An accomplice who allegedly attempted to escape with a vehicle loaded with explosives, arms and ammunitions was said to have later abandoned the vehicle in a bush path and fled.

“We all came out when we heard the sound and inform the people that something that exploded killed somebody and on getting to the place one of the occupants we met immediately escaped in a vehicle.

“So the youth gave him a hot chase shouting that he had killed somebody and he was subsequently arrested and taken to the Divisional Police Officer before his onward transfer to the area commander”. President Iddo Youth, Mohammad Mohammad, stated.

Contacted, the spokesman for Edo Police Command DSP Chidi Nwabuzor said ” Mike, you will be here tomorrow (today) the CP wants to brief the press”.

He however declined to comment on the incident.

Meanwhile, Following the explosion that rocked Okpella community in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, yesterday, the Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has directed the commissioner of police and the Director of Department of State Services (DSS) in the state, to commence search for explosives and other weapons and dis-arm the militia group operating in the community.

Obaseki gave the directive after listening to the traditional ruler of Okpella, His Royal Highness (HRH) Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, Alhaji Andrew Dirisu and chiefs from the different clans in the community who paid the governor a courtesy visit at the Government House.

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He told his guests that the report of a bomb explosion in Okpella is disheartening and must be investigated.

It was gathered that a strange vehicle was seen in Okpella and when concerned people in the community stopped the vehicle, the occupants fled. In the process, one of the occupants set off a bomb which claimed the bomber’s life and his colleague in crime was apprehended. After interrogation, a bomb factory was discovered in the neighbourhood in the community.

In his response, Obaseki said he was worried about the events in Okpella, such as the reign of an armed group terrorising the community.

“We cannot pretend that things are fine. We must move arms out of private hands in that community and ensure peace returns to that domain.

“Your Royal Highness, if not for the explosion that rocked the community where one person died, you would not have known that explosives of such nature were in private hands in your domain. In the last one year Okpella has recorded the highest rate of incidents in Edo State. I cannot sit down without taking action,” the governor said.

He assured that his administration would do all within its power to ensure that all Edo people and residents in the state are safe and secure, promising to nip in the bud, the worrisome trend in Okpella.

He recalled the attack on his convoy by suspected members of BUA Surveillance Group during his recent visit to the palace of the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, and described the attack as “unacceptable and an attack on the Edo State Government.”

He urged the managing director of BUA International Limited to come out and explain his role in the alleged sponsorship of a militia group in the community.

Earlier, the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella Andrew Dirisu commended the governor for his visionary leadership style exemplified by his consistent and swift responses to issues that threaten the peace of the state.

He called on the governor to put in place an alternative dispute resolution mechanism to address the Dangote-BUA issue, though the case is before a competent court.

Recall that the governor raised an alarm recently that some Edo youths in Okpella, were allegedly armed by BUA Cement, as a militia group based on intelligence report, a development Obaseki said could disrupt the peace in the area.