Residents of the Ibadan metropolis in Oyo State, where the Tuesday explosion happened,
have asked for tougher measures against illegal immigration.
On Tuesday night, an explosion rocked the Ibadan city in Oyo State, killing many people and
injuring many more.
The incident, which occurred at 8 p.m., sparked widespread terror in the old city, with
residents running helter-skelter and a dense dark smoke enveloping the area.
According to reports, the explosion took place on Adeyi Avenue in the state capital’s Bodija
Estat neighborhood.
A section of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Oyo State House of Assembly, the mansion of
former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, as well as several buildings in
Ologuneru, Apete, New Garage, Bashorun, Akobo, Sango, and Eleyele, were all impacted.
Glass windows, doors, and ceilings were damaged in the impacted regions.
Although the victims of the tragedy have still to be determined, Governor Seyi Makinde stated that
two persons died and 77 were injured and hospitalized.
He claimed early security investigations suggested that the incident was caused by explosive devices
held by unlicensed miners.
Meanwhile, in a video obtained by The news men, a white pickup truck bearing the sign Bodija Patrol
van was seen transporting what appeared to be the lifeless bodies of some of the victims following the explosion.
Our correspondent also said that at least ten bodies had been discovered from the scene and transported in ambulances.
A mutilated body was also visible at the alleged explosion scene, while supporters of the victim
decried the lack of police and emergency responders.
Speaking to media about the explosion, Taiwo Salami, a resident of Adeyi, Bodija, stated, “Many
people have killed. We spotted corpses on the street yesterday night. It simply has to end.
Not just in Ibadan, but also in Niger, Sokoto, Abuja, and elsewhere.
“There is turmoil and disorder in this country. This is not the country that everyone wants to
live in. This is not the land of our aspirations. It’s simply ludicrous. Where do people start?
Lives have been lost. Can they be regained? They cannot. Everybody awoke yesterday thinking it was 2024.
“It’s January, for gods sake. Is this how we’ll start the year? How many more like this do we have in other
Salami responded to an inquiry about illegal miners residing on the estate, saying, “I’m not aware.
That’s what we’re hearing: the inquiry would begin, and the truth would be disclosed. But it’s
really sad. It reflects the Nigeria of today.
“There is no safety; there is no safety. People are being kidnapped inside their homes.
People can’t travel because they’ve been kidnapped. People sleeping inside their homes are
being blasted. For heavens sake, what is going on here?”
When asked about the extent of his injuries from the explosion, Salami stated, “Everything is gone.
The entire house is gone. Everything, including the vehicles and homes, is gone. In fact, the entire
neighborhood, including all the residences, would have to be razed. Every single house must be razed
since its structural flaws are obvious; fractures are everywhere. Everything needs to be dismantled and
possibly rebuilt. “You’re talking billions here.”
Another local resident, known only as Apa, denied that illicit mining was to blame for the explosion.
Apa remarked, “When I called my neighbour, Dada, he said, “Do you remember those Malians? There must
be some mining equipment that detonated, and such equipment is not made of inexpensive materials. It is really heavy.
“If the explosion had occurred in Odogbo barracks, one would respond, ‘Yes, they have all kinds of things there. However,
this is extremely incorrect. That item is not meant to be stored in this type of setting. And such equipment must be stored
in areas with low humidity. Maybe the temperature provoked it, which is my own suspicion.
“Because I heard Governor Makinde say there is illegal mining here, but this is not true. There isn’t anything like illicit
mining here. The equipment was brought here by local miners, who are Malians.
“This is a lesson for the Nigerian government to consider if we want to maintain such people in the country. Aside from that,
Malians cause trouble. So the government should start thinking about what to do with them, especially if they don’t have the
necessary documents to live in our nation.
Some locals in the impacted region complained about the emergency services’ late arrival at the explosion site.
Speaking with our journalist on Wednesday, a resident named Tunde Atilade said no emergency
responders were seen for a long after the explosion.
According to him, some of the deceased victims could have survived if they had arrived sooner.
He stated, “When the explosion occurred, we couldn’t even determine the reason, so we decided to
begin looking for casualties. During this time, we learned that persons were trapped under the
rubble of several of the collapsed houses. Residents had to work together to rescue the people.
For more than two hours, there was confusion everywhere, forcing people to rely on their own
resources. This continued for more than two hours as the injured victims were transported to the
hospital in available automobiles. Local rescuers were helpless as individuals were buried beneath the rubble.
It was reported that certain schools affected by the explosion were closed on Wednesday.
A nearby bank was also impacted by the blast.
A survivor of the explosion, Adeleke, stated that the incident claimed the life of his elder brother.
The survivor, who talked with Lagelu FM, claimed that they were playing tennis at a nearby hotel
before his brother went out to attend to something before the explosion produced a commotion
and sent a sharp object into his stomach, resulting in a serious cut.
Adeleke stated, “He emerged in front of the transformer where the incident occurred. Following the cut, his intestines were exposed.
He named his late brother as Oladipupo and stated that he was taken to Adeoyo General Hospital soon after the incident.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, more survivors were rescued from the rubble. This includes a male adult who has yet to be
identified and was transported in an ambulance.
Fatai Owoseni, the governor’s Special Adviser on Security, stated on a radio broadcast on
Tuesday that additional persons could be buried under the rubble.
He said. We are now unable to determine what triggered the explosion. However, residents in this
region just heard the sound of the explosion. And the noise was heard as far as Jericho, Ologuneru.
That is to say, there must have been a large explosion. We saw a crater at the explosion site. Many
houses within a 500-meter radius of the likely starting point have been affected. Some houses were
completely torn down. It is possible that some people are still trapped in the wreckage of the houses.
I learned that some people had been transported to the hospital. For the time being, the focus and attention are on finding ways to speed up rescue operations.
Source: PunchNG
