PRESS RELEASE

The Attention of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society has been drawn to the unnecessary debate that is raging concerning the cause of the Explosion that occurred on Saturday 28 March, 2020 along Akure-Owo Highway in Akure, Ondo State.

NMGS as the umbrella Society for all Professional Geoscientists and Mining Engineers in Nigeria wish to state as follows:

i) That the explosion was caused by the unfortunate and accidental detonation of Explosives being lawfully conveyed to Edo State.

ii) That all evidences from actual site visits by members of the Society and interviews from eye witnesses have confirmed the cause to be man-made

iii) That the resulting crater was as a result of the huge impact of the detonated

explosives

iv) That the story that it was caused by a meteorite that impacted the area is FALSE

and the general public and news media (both online and traditional) are urged to

discountenance such report and stop spreading false information

v) That all relevant agencies of government are encouraged to ensure strict compliance with the necessary safety codes by companies involved in the use of such devices for their lawful operations

vi) That the general public should allow the law enforcement agencies do their job without encumbrances

vii) That the NMGS is in touch with the necessary agencies of government in seeing

that such occurrence is prevented in future

viii) That the Society is available to provide further information that may be

necessary to clear all doubts

Please give this the widest circulation to stem the flow of false information and Narratives. Thank you.

SIGNED

O. S. NKOM, FNMGS President, NMGS