By Olusegun Olanrewaju, Cross Udo, Nathaniel Zacchaeus, and Linus Aleke
Shock and outrage trailed the emergency response yesterday following Tuesday night’s devastating explosion in a section of the serene old Bodija neighbourhood in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
weeping, mourning, anger, cursing, and swearing wafted in the air as sympathisers, victims, and rescuers milled to watch the bulldozers in action salvaging whatever they could, with tact, as state Governor, Seyi Makinde, rolled out emergency measures to control and contain the aftershocks of the wreckages that littered the affected area.
Women, some half-clad, wailed; men hissed, children looked askance, as fowls squawked as the debris was being offloaded in a hail of moving tears.
A survivor of the explosion, who identified himself as Adeleke, told a local broadcasting station that he lost his elder brother to the incident.
Adeleke said they were at the hotel in the area playing tennis before his brother sought to go out to attend to something before the explosion caused a stir that sent a sharp object that gave him a deep cut in his stomach.
He said, “He came out to the front of the transformer where the incident happened. His intestines were out after the cut.”
He identified his late brother as Oladipupo, noting that he was rushed to the Adeoyo General Hospital immediately after the incident.
Another survivor, Olaitan Okanlawon, said the incident happened around 7 pm after hearing a strange sound.
“I was inside with my husband and kids. And we started hearing strange sounds and vibrations, it was not clear until we began to see rubbles, outside the window.
“One of my kids has a cut on his head and is being attended to, we have moved out our stuff to the hotel,” she added.
*Makinde’s ‘palliative’
Amid the ensuing bedlam, and to stop further negativity, Governor, Seyi Makinde, disclosed further details about the deadly explosion that rocked the state capital.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme yesterday night, Makinde said an investigation into the previous day’s explosion had revealed the identity of the owners of the company where the explosion took place.
According to him, information on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) certificate of a mining company indicted some foreigners as owners.
The governor further informed that the death toll in the unfortunate blast had risen to three as one more victim died at a hospital yesterday.
Earlier in the day, Governor Makinde had visited the Bodija explosion scene to confirm casualties.
*The incident
The late Tuesday evening explosion, which reverberated across major areas of the ‘Oluyole City’, was allegedly triggered by an explosion from dynamite stored by an illegal miner in a residential area on the Dejo Oyelese area of the Old Bodija Estate.
Reports said that three deaths were recorded, 77 injured, and houses reduced to rubbles, while buildings with glass recorded shattered outcomes.
With many cars damaged, hundreds were rendered homeless. The houses of prominent Nigerians like former governor, the late Chief Bola Ige and the late ex-governor Lam-Adesina’s deputy, Iyiola Oladokun; a monarch, Oba Kola Adegbola, Comrade Kunle Famoriyo of the Afenifere Renewal fame, Actress Bimbo Oshin, interim Oyo NAWOJ chairperson, Bola Okanlawon, and others, were not spared.
Governor Makinde, who visited the scene in the company of his deputy, Adebayo Lawal, and other top government functionaries, confirmed that “this unfortunate incident resulted in death and injury to residents in the vicinity and also affected properties.”
He commented, “We have already deployed first responders and all relevant agencies within Oyo state to carry out comprehensive search and rescue operations. These operations will continue throughout the night.
“Earth-moving equipment, ambulances, emergency lights, and security personnel were deployed to the scene of the incident. The wounded and injured are being treated and moved to public and private hospitals within Ibadan.
”Medical personnel are on standby at these hospitals to provide all needed assistance to the injured. We have visited UCH to see some of those injured during the incident.
“In total, we have 77 injured victims so far, most of whom were treated and discharged, and two fatalities. May their souls rest in peace and may God give their loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
The governor also stressed, “I have 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.”
According to the governor, 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, reports added.
Makinde stated, “I urge all residents to please call 615 for any emergencies they may be experiencing at this time and to remain calm and stay away from the immediate scene of the incident to allow rescue operations to be carried out without interference.
“We are grateful to the first responders, security personnel, and all those who are at the scene to assist with the rescue operations as well as the medical personnel taking care of the injured.
“Please say a prayer for those who have been affected by this disaster as we continue with the rescue operations,” he added.
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*Victims recount ordeal as University College Hospital intensifies emergency response
Some of the victims affected by Tuesday’s tragic explosion that occurred in the Bodija area of Ibadan have recalled their ordeals, describing it as surreal and traumatic.
The victims expressed their experiences in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria yesterday at the Emergency Unit of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
Idowu Fagbemi, 15, said that the incident was still to him though a dream.
Fagbemi, who could barely speak due to the shock, said he ran out of the house immediately when he heard the sound of the explosion.
“I was in the house when we heard something like a bomb blast, so I started running and later found myself in the hospital this morning,” he said.
His mother, Mrs Fagbemi, said that her son sustained injury on the head in the process of running for his life.
The upset mother said that her husband, who was also in the house with their son at the time of the explosion, was yet to be found.
“We thank God for Idowu’s life while we trust Him to also allow us to see his father alive,” she said.
Another woman, who simply gave her first name as Florence, said her mother was a victim and was presently receiving treatment at the emergency unit.
“I don’t just have the strength to talk now because we have been at the emergency unit since yesterday night. Our mummy is still alive and we pray that God heals her speedily,” she said.
Another relation at the hospital, who didn’t give his name, said he was frustrated as his brother, who was in the house where the explosion occurred, was yet to be found.
“I don’t just know what to do now because we don’t even know whether he is alive or dead,” he said.
Meanwhile, UCH, in a statement issued yesterday by its Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmi Adetuyibi, said all medical personnel have been placed on alert to provide healthcare support for victims of the explosion.
Adetuyibi said that the hospital has mobilised its resources to meet the urgent healthcare needs of the victims of the unfortunate incident.
According to her, the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, has called for a galvanised coordination of its personnel, made up of doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, student doctors and nurses, and clinical and non-clinical staff.
“A trauma response team has been activated to implement comprehensive measures to ensure that every patient receives prompt and compassionate care.
“Medical staff, including trauma surgeons, emergency room physicians, nurses, and other personnel have been working around the clock to stabilise and treat the injured.
“As part of its commitment to transparency, the University College Hospital is continuously communicating with relevant authorities and providing regular updates to the public.
“The hospital remains focused on delivering high-quality medical care to those affected by this tragic event,” Adetuyibi said.
Meanwhile, of the 12 victims received by the hospital, the statement says one was brought in dead.
“Unfortunately, too, the hospital had a lot of its facilities damaged by the effects of the blast. The affected facilities include the Medical Museum, School of Nursing, Molecular Laboratory, Bulk Store, Ogunlesi Hall, and Hospital Clinics, among others, she said.
*Tinubu orders security to get perpetrators
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has described as worrisome, the unfortunate explosion.
He directed all the relevant authorities to ensure that those behind the incident were fished out.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu was quoted as saying, “It is worrisome that the cause of the blast is being attributed to the activities of illegal miners. Those behind the inexcusable and reckless behaviour that has created the conditions for the sad incident to occur must be fished out and punished.”
The President also commiserated with the government and people of Oyo State and called on all concerned agencies of government to unravel the circumstances that led to the tragedy with despatch.
Tinubu, according to the statement, also directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to work with the Oyo State Government in offering immediate and comprehensive relief to the victims.
*Akpabio, Abbas commiserate
In their separate statements, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, have commiserated with the victims, the people of the state, and the state government.
Akpabio, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, expressed sadness at the accident, lamenting the loss of lives and property.
Part of the statement read, “With a heavy heart, I wish to commiserate with Governor Seyi Makinde, the good people of Oyo State, and indeed victims and their families in this unfortunate occurrence. I am very distraught at this accident happening, especially at the beginning of the year.
“I pray that the Almighty God will forgive the sins of those who lost their lives in the explosion and welcome them in His kingdom.
“For those who sustained injuries, it is my prayer that they will receive healing in good times. For the families that suffered different losses, may God replace all that they have lost.”
The Senate President urged the relevant interventionist agencies to come to the aid of the victims.
He said, “I urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other humanitarian groups to quickly assist the victims to ease the pain of their losses.”
The Senate President equally praised the security agencies and other rescue workers for their bravery and prompt intervention during the explosion.
He, however, called for a thorough investigation to unearth the cause of the explosion to forestall further occurrences.
The Senate President said, “I must commend the security agencies and other rescue workers for their prompt intervention, especially the bravery and high level of professionalism they exhibited when the explosion happened. I encourage you to keep up the good work.
“I also urge the relevant agencies to carry out a thorough investigation into the remote and immediate causes of the explosion so that adequate provisions could be made to prevent such fatal accidents in the future.”
On his part, Speaker Abbas, in a statement by his media aide, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, lamented the fate of the victims.
Calling for proper investigation of the incident and possible arrest and prosecution of those suspected to have caused the explosion, he extended his condolences to the government and the people of Oyo State, while praying to God to comfort the victims and their families.
“The explosion in a peaceful and populated ancient city like Ibadan is terrifying. It is more worrisome that it happened at a time when the government is tackling various security issues and threats to lives and property. My heart goes out to the people of Ibadan, especially the victims and their families over their avoidable losses,” he said.
The Speaker prayed for the souls of those who lost their lives.
*FEC raises committee to review laws on explosives
Meanwhile, in their response to the Ibadan blast, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) raised a committee to review laws on explosives.
The committee is to review the laws guiding the control of explosives in the country in a bid to determine whether they might have been violated by illegal miners in Ibadan leading the deadly blast.
The Minister of Defence, Abubakar Bagudu, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the first FEC meeting in 2024, presided over by President Bola Tinubu, at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The minister said that the council expressed worries about the incident and noted the need to avert future occurrences.
He said despite preliminary investigations suggesting that explosives stored by illegal miners may be the cause, there was also suspicion in some quarters that gas may have been to blame.
He noted that federal agents were now on the ground at the scene of the incident to ascertain the cause and ways to prevent future occurrences.
Fielding questions from journalists, the Minister said, “The first question has to do with the Ibadan explosion where the governor said that preliminary investigation suggested that there are some explosives around the area where it happened that are owned by some illegal miners.
“Well, we have seen that report. There is another report suggesting that it was a gas explosion. So, our team is there trying to find out what is the cause.
In another development, The Federal Government also yesterday cautioned Nigerians against publicly crowd-funding through social media to raise funds for kidnap victims, saying that it is not only illegal but counterproductive.
