The Oyo State Government has announced an increase in the death toll resulting from Tuesday’s explosion in the state capital, Ibadan, bringing the total to five. The explosion, which occurred within a 14-kilometer radius, caused significant damage to numerous houses. Governor Seyi Makinde provided an update on Tuesday night, stating that two deaths occurred on the day of the incident, and another victim succumbed to injuries in a hospital on Wednesday.
In the aftermath of the blast, seven individuals sustained injuries in the Bodija area of Ibadan. However, a recent update from the governor’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, Fatai Owoseni, revealed that two more bodies have been recovered, further raising the death toll. Owoseni assured that the state government is actively monitoring and responding to the situation as investigations into the cause of the explosion are underway.
In a recent statement, residents of Adeyi Avenue in Bodija, Ibadan, have attributed the explosion to Malian illegal miners. The incident, which left at least three persons dead and caused extensive property damage, prompted President Bola Tinubu to call on relevant government agencies to identify and punish those responsible for the “reckless behavior” that triggered the blast.
Governor Makinde, who visited the scene, confirmed that the explosion, linked to illegal miners occupying a house in the Bodija area, was heard and felt kilometers away in various parts of the city. Preliminary investigations by security agencies support the notion that the blast was caused by the activities of these illegal miners. The rescue operation is ongoing, with authorities actively engaged in managing the aftermath of the tragic incident.
