Information has emerged that the explosion that occurred at Dejo Oyelese Street, Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State on Tuesday was triggered by dynamite used by miners. This was according to one of the survivors. The explosion reportedly led to loss of lives and property in the community.
One of the survivors identified only as Alhaji Mohammed said, “When the spark started, it was from the electricals and I brought out my fire extinguisher trying to help. My neighbour told me that it had passed an extinguisher and we needed to call the fire service. I told my son to bring my phone for me to call the fire service before the fire touched dynamite brought home by some miners in the building.
“The explosion threw me away and I thought I was dead. My children and wife are currently at the hospital receiving treatment.”
Another survivor who identified himself as Olaide, noted that they were called out to help douse a fire when the dynamite exploded.
He said, “We didn’t know that they brought anything home. We were only trying to help when we fell. I didn’t know when I woke up. I just found myself lying on the floor. It was scary.”
There are indications that lives and properties were lost to the explosion
The deputy governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, arrived at the scene of the explosion around 11pm on Tuesday and called for calm.
He said, “We have to be calm. Let us allow the experts to do their job and we should please move away from the site because we don’t know if there can be another secondary explosion.”
In a statement issued by Prince Dotun Oyelade, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation stated that it was an uncommon explosion.
The statement partly read : ”Residents of Ibadan and immediate environ experienced an uncommon explosion about 8pm this evening.
There are various interpretations of the incident but it is important for us to state categorically that the state government has taken over and in the full control of the unfortunate occurrence in order to mitigate the incident.
All security service chiefs including para military chiefs and Fire Operatives have been deployed by the governor to Reign in the spillover from the explosion.
His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde therefore implores citizens to calm down and be rest assured that their interests are being looked after”.
