An explosion has occurred at the Bagudo General Hospital in Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State, triggering panic among residents of the area, the Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, prompted an immediate security response, with law enforcement agencies moving swiftly to secure the hospital premises and surrounding areas to avert further threats.

Confirming the development in a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Bashir Usman, said the command had taken full control of the situation.

“The Kebbi State Police Command wishes to assure members of the public that we have full control of the security situation following the explosion at the General Hospital, Bagudo,” Usman said.

According to him, a joint security team comprising personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian military and local vigilante groups was immediately deployed to the scene.

He added that operatives of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal–Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) unit were also mobilised to assess the scene and determine the cause of the explosion.

Usman said preliminary findings indicated that there were no casualties from the incident.

“We are grateful to confirm that there were no casualties. Although a building within the hospital’s staff quarters was damaged, the occupants had already evacuated safely before the explosion,” he said.

The police spokesperson noted that investigations were ongoing to ascertain the source and nature of the explosion, assuring that the command would keep the public informed as more details emerge.

The incident comes amid heightened security concerns in parts of the North-West region.

Source recalls that a few days ago, several travellers were reportedly killed following a suspected bomb explosion along the Yar’Tasha–Dansadau road in Maru Local Government Area of neighbouring Zamfara State.

The Federal Government had earlier assured Nigerians of adequate security measures during and after the yuletide season. However, recent security incidents in the region have continued to raise concerns among residents.

The Kebbi State Police Command urged members of the public to remain calm and vigilant, while reporting any suspicious movement or object to the nearest security agency.