Makinde links Ibadan explosion to explosive storage by illegal miners; Oyo Police unsure of cause of explosion; UCH recalls off-duty workers to attend to victims

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State says preliminary investigations by security agencies have revealed that the explosion that happened around 7:44 pm at Dejo Oyelese Street in the Bodija area of Ibadan on the evening of Tuesday, January 16, 2024, was caused by explosive devices stored by illegal miners in the neaghbourhood.

The impact of the blast which threw residents of Ibadan into panic was felt city-wide as it affected a section of the Governor’s Office, the residence of the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, the Oyo State House of Assembly, and residences in Akobo, Sango, Bodija, Apete, New Garage, Eleyele, Sango and many other communities in the heart of Ibadan.

The governor who disclosed that two people have been confirmed dead, while 77 persons sustained injuries, assured the people of the state during his visit to the scene of the explosion that anyone found culpable would be brought to book.

Makinde while providing updates about the incident via his Twitter handle said, “Preliminary investigations by the security agencies revealed that illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija had stored explosive devices there which caused the blast. The investigations are ongoing. All those found culpable for this will be brought to book.”

He said the “Unfortunate incident resulted in death and injury to residents in the vicinity,” adding that first responders and all relevant agencies within Oyo State have been deployed to the area “To carry out comprehensive search and rescue operations.”

“In total, we have 77 injured victims so far, most of whom were treated and discharged and 2 fatalities. May their souls rest in peace and may God give their loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” Makinde said.

He said he has directed that the medical bills of all victims be covered by the government.

“We will also be providing temporary accommodation for those whose houses were affected and ensuring that they are supported to rebuild their lives.

“Preliminary investigations by the security agencies revealed that illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija had stored explosive devices there which caused the blast. The investigations are ongoing. All those found culpable for this will be brought to book,” the governor said.

Makinde further urged residents of the state to stay calm and stay away from the immediate scene of the incident to allow rescue operations to be carried out without interference.

The Police command in Oyo State has deployed officers to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

The Command says it is yet to ascertain the nature or cause of Tuesday’s explosion in Ibadan, as well as the number of casualties.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Adewale Osifeso, in a statement on Tuesday in Ibadan said the cause of the explosion was yet unknown.

Also, no casualty can be confirmed for now. But the search continues,” he stated.

The PPRO disclosed that the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Adebola Hamzat, has already in the company of some senior officers and other responders, conducted an on-the-spot assessment.

“The Commissioner and the other officers have been at the forefront of rescue operations. The Oyo State Police Command has also deployed armed and plain-cloth officers to forestall any breakdown of law and order. So, updates are coming up soon,” he assured.

The hospital also said no building in the institution collapsed as has been reported online.

The management of University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, the city’s biggest health facility, late Tuesday called on its workers who were off-duty to return to the hospital.

The move was as a result of the high number of those injured during Tuesday’s explosion who were brought to the hospital.

A health worker, who confirmed this to NAN but asked for anonymity, said the UCH authorities directed them to report at the hospital to attend to the victims.

“They said more hands were needed to attend to those being brought in, and they were not sure of the number that can still come in later during the evening or early in the morning of Wednesday,” the worker said.

Another UCH staff also said the hospital authorities were particularly worried about those who might come in for admission as a result of the explosion’s “after effects.”

“I’m sure it is not about those from the immediate effects. There are those who are likely to suffer from shocks, given that the first reports about the incident indicated that there was an earth tremor. These include those with high blood pressure and are hypertensive.

“Those with injuries from the buildings can be determined, but you cannot tell about those who got hurt after hearing news of the explosion or seeing its effect,” the health worker said.

But the Director of Public Relations, University of Ibadan, Joke Akinpelu, has denied that some buildings in the institution collapsed as a result of the explosion.

“There was nothing of such in the University of Ibadan. No building collapse has been recorded here,” Akinpelu said.