Ibadan Explosion: Tinubu Expresses Sadness, Directs NEMA To Offer Relief

President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed his grief on Wednesday over the devastating explosion in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, which claimed two lives and left 80 people injured.

Initial findings by security agencies attributed the Tuesday night blast to the explosives stored by illegal miners who were occupying one of the houses in Bodija, a district in Ibadan. The explosion also destroyed vehicles and several buildings nearby.

"It is worrisome that the cause of the blast is being attributed to the activities of illegal miners. Those behind the inexcusable and reckless behavior that has created the conditions for this sad incident to occur must be fished out and punished," Tinubu said, as per the official statement shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"I commiserate with the government and people of Oyo State and call on all concerned agencies of government to unravel the circumstances that led to this tragedy with alacrity," the president added.

Tinubu further said that he had directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to work with the Oyo State Government to offer immediate and comprehensive relief to the victims.

A resident disclosed that the blast was so powerful that it impacted several houses and cars far from the scene, adding "We heard a loud bang around 7:30 pm. Dominos shattered, Ace Mall in Bodija destroyed," Channels TV reported.

Governor of Oyo State Seyi Makinde, who visited the scene where the explosion took place, said most of the injured victims have been treated and discharged so far, adding that two of them died.

"May their souls rest in peace and may God give their loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss," he said, noting that "we are aware that aside from the immediate perimeter of this incident, people as far as 25 km away may have been affected physically or psychologically," as per the official statement.

The governor appealed to everyone who is still staying anywhere within 250 meters of the range of the incident, should immediately move out to government-provided accommodation until the officials check the structural integrity of the buildings.

He also warned people to refrain from taking advantage of this disaster and carry out any form of looting, noting that security agencies have been placed on high alert to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order.