Tinubu, Alake commiserate with Oyo Government, victims of explosions in Ibadan

*President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Dr. Oladele Alake, Minister for Solid Minerals Development express sadness, and commiserate with the Oyo State Government, as well as victims of recent devastating explosions in Ibadan, urging the public to always be safety conscious and report persons or organisations endangering public health and security

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed sadness over the devastating explosions that occurred night of Tuesday, January 16, 2024, in the Bodija Estate area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

ConsumerConnect reports the devastating explosions killed three persons as of Wednesday, and injured over 77 other people, according to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and a scene from the explosions site in Ibadan

The unfortunate incident also destroyed several buildings, vehicles, and other property in the area.

Commiserating with the victims of the blasts, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement issued Wednesday, January 17, in Abuja, FCT, noted President Tinubu said: “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 Nigerian leader also sympathised with the government and people of Oyo State.

Tinubu urged all concerned government agencies to unravel the circumstances that led to the tragedy with alacrity.

The President equally directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to work with the Oyo State Government to offer immediate and comprehensive relief to the victims.

Ibadan explosions sad and tragic, says Alake

Expressing concern over the deadly occurrence also, Dr. Oladele Alake, Honourable Minister for Solid Minerals Development, noted he was  saddened by the news of explosions took place Tuesday night in Ibadan.

Alake, in a statement he personally signed and issued Wednesday, said: “I offer my condolences over lost lives on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals to Governor Seyi Makinde and the good people of Oyo State.

“I also extend my sympathy to the wounded and other victims who suffered one loss or the other, especially residents whose house were destroyed.”

The Minister stated: “I pray the Almighty God to comfort the families of the deceased and grant succour to those who lost valuables as they begin to rebuild.”

He equally said the Oyo State Government and Emergency Response agencies of both the state and Federal Governments had pledged to help victims to recover as much as possible.

Alake further disclosed that in the interim, “I have directed the Ministry’s mine officers, who are already on site in Ibadan to join ongoing investigations to find out the immediate and remote cause of the explosion.

“We have ordered detailed investigation and our officers will work and collaborate with Oyo State Government to know the actual cause.

“If the explosion was caused by mining explosives devices as earlier reported, the Ministry will double its effort to tighten the noose around those acquiring explosives and storing them illegally,” said he.

The Minister added: “I commend Governor Seyi Makinde for the rapid mobilisation of emergency response efforts, including the deployment of fire service, Police, and other security agencies.

“I urge members of the public to always be safety conscious and report persons or organisations endangering public health and security.”

Meanwhile, as investigation continues into the immediate and remote cause(s) of the incident, unconfirmed sources in Ibadan City have allegedly linked the sudden explosions to certain illegal Malian miners, who had stored explosives in residential facilities in the affected area over the years, according to Governor Makinde.