Explosion Rocks CBN office in Calabar, Many Confirmed Dead

So far, about 18 people have been confirmed dead while others sustained third degree burns in an inferno at the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, following an explosion at the premises of the Bank located at Calabar Road by the Millennium Park on Friday.

The explosion which took place at about 11.45am set the main edifice of the bank on fire thus trapping many staff and visitors which occasioned for the high casualty. Many roasted to death.

A team of mobile policemen and soldiers assisted by nurses and personnel of the Nigeria Security and civil defense Corps were seen keeping guard over the place while Fire Service officials were putting out the fire and rescuing those trapped in the building. 

“I cannot give exact figures of how many people are dead but many people were burnt beyond recognition while many sustained third degree burns; rescue operation is going on to ensure everyone is brought out soon,” an official of the Federal Fire Service at the Calabar Airport said. 

He said the source of the explosion is not known but we gathered from CBN sources that it was a gas explosion and may not be related to terrorism.