An explosion at a mining site in Sabon Pegi, Mashegun Local Government Area of Niger State, has claimed two lives and caused extensive damage to nearby buildings. The incident, which occurred around 7:00 AM on Sunday, was reportedly triggered by an electrical spark that ignited illegally stored explosives.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has dispatched officials from the Federal Mines Office to the site for an immediate on-the-spot assessment. Preliminary investigations point to Yushua Maikampala, a resident of New Bussa, as the alleged perpetrator. Maikampala is accused of illegally stockpiling explosives and their accessories in a house at Sabon Pegi.

The explosion destroyed the building where the explosives were stored and damaged about 20 surrounding houses, leaving two confirmed fatalities.

In a statement, the Minister extended his deepest condolences to the victims and condemned the negligence that led to the tragedy. He described the incident as avoidable and emphasized the dangers of improper handling and illegal storage of explosives.

To ensure accountability, the Minister has directed the Mines Inspectorate Department to conduct a forensic analysis of soil samples from the blast site. This investigation aims to trace the origin of the explosives and guide subsequent actions.

Security agencies have been mobilized to apprehend the suspected culprit, Maikampala, who is currently on the run. The Minister assured the public that the alleged perpetrator would be brought to justice.

This incident underscores the need for stricter regulation and enforcement to prevent such avoidable tragedies in the future.