By Sophia Afolabi
Panic has gripped Obinwanne community in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State after a powerful explosion killed a man believed to be attempting to plant an improvised explosive device (IED) near a local market.
The victim, identified as Chinworeke Mmadu, reportedly died after the explosive detonated prematurely in his possession, setting off chaos and fear in the southeastern town.
Gruesome footage that emerged shortly after the incident showed the man writhing in pain with both legs mangled by the blast. Residents could be heard in the background accusing him of being a saboteur working with a yet-to-be-identified terror cell posing as Biafra agitators.
“He wan go drop bomb for market, e come blow for him hand!” one shocked resident shouted in Igbo pidgin, captured in the viral video. Others speculated the bomb was intended to cause mass casualties before the device malfunctioned.
The Imo State Police Command confirmed the explosion in a statement signed by its spokesperson, ASP Henry Okoye. According to the police, the man was “carrying the bomb when it exploded prematurely.”
“On receipt of the distress call, operatives from Njaba Divisional Headquarters immediately mobilised to the scene,” Okoye said, adding that two passers-by injured in the explosion were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Following the incident, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Hamzat Abdulkadir, led a bomb disposal team to sweep the area. The site has since been declared safe.
Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, who condemned the act, urged residents to remain calm and vigilant, assuring them that investigations were ongoing to uncover the motive behind the attempted bombing.
The police also called on the public to provide credible information that could lead to the arrest of collaborators or any group behind the botched attack.
Imo State, like many parts of the South-East, has in recent times witnessed a surge in violent attacks linked to separatist groups operating under the guise of Biafra agitation. Security agencies have repeatedly warned about the weaponisation of such ideologies for criminal ends.
