A fatal blast occurred within a drainage ditch situated at No. 1 Old Nekede Road, near the Lakeside Hotel in Owerri West, resulting in the deaths of two individuals believed to be scavengers.
Henry Okoye, the Imo State Police Command spokesperson, stated that an investigation is underway. After receiving reports from local residents, officers arrived quickly, secured the perimeter, and deployed the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit to examine the site.
Initial reports indicate the victims, identified as 32-year-old Hyginus Akalonu from Umulumu and 22-year-old Victor Egwu from Agba, were searching for scrap metal when the explosion happened. Both men suffered critical burns and later died while undergoing medical care at the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital in Owerri.
The EOD Unit is conducting a detailed inquiry into the source of the blast. Commissioner of Police Audu Garba Bosso confirmed that the situation is under control. He advised the public to stay alert and notify the police if they encounter any suspicious items or behavior.
