The National Emergency Management Agency has disclosed that over 20 houses were affected in the Tuesday night explosion that rocked the Bodija area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital. In a statement on Wednesday, NEMA said there was no information yet on casualty figures.
However, sources at the scene of the incident on Tuesday night said no fewer than 11 dead bodies were evacuated from the debris of the affected structures. Governor Seyi Makinde admitted only two fatalities.
“Over 20 houses were affected. Casualty figures can not be ascertained for now. Search and rescue operation is still ongoing,” the agency said.
NEMA, however, assured residents of the state that security has been beefed up in the area while arrangements for more support to facilitate the operations are in progress, saying, “the situation has been brought under control while arrangements are going on to ensure smooth operation.”
Reacting to the incident, the state governor, Seyi Makinde, said preliminary investigations by security agencies revealed that explosive devices stored by illegal miners caused the explosion that rocked the area.
Makinde, who visited the explosion scene Tuesday night, said that though further investigations were still ongoing, anyone found guilty would be brought to book.
He also revealed that the “medical bills of victims will be picked by the government” while promising to ensure that all those whose houses were affected were ‘supported to rebuild their lives.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday night, the Oyo State Police Command confirmed the explosion.
The command, however, said the number of casualties in the incident was still unknown, adding that there has been ample deployment of their men to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
The state government has however appealed to residents of the state to vacate the incident scene.
According to the government on its X handle Wednesday morning, “this will enable emergency and rescue efforts to continue at the site without interference. Search and rescue efforts using earth-moving equipment continued throughout the night and remain ongoing. We will keep providing updates about the situation.”
