Tag: Ibadan explosion

One year after the devastating explosion that shook the Bodija area of Ibadan, affected residents have revealed they are yet to receive the promised compensation. 

Speaking during an interdenominational service held to commemorate the tragic event, the President of the Bodija Estate Residents’ Association (BERA), Pastor Muyiwa Bamgbose, lamented the plight of families still displaced due to the destruction.

He noted that several properties remain uninhabitable, overgrown with weeds, and abandoned. 

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The service, organized by BERA in collaboration with the Dejo Oyelese Vigilante Group (DOVG), was held at the Bodija Estate Baptist Church to honour the five residents who lost their lives in the explosion. 

Pastor Bamgbose shared the names of the deceased: Mr. Fimihan Fagbemi, Mr. Toluwalase Kehinde, Mr. Ladipo Azeez Oyebamiji, Mrs. Agnus Bolanle Badmus, and Mr. Bolu Adebiyi.

He also highlighted the lasting impact of the incident, which left over 70 people injured and damaged more than 200 houses, leaving a deep scar on the community. 

Calling for justice and more support for the victims, Bamgbose urged the residents to use the tragedy as an opportunity to strengthen their unity and resilience.

Some victims of the Bodija explosion in Ibadan, on Monday, told hard tales of lives after the incident and how they have been coping with the new reality.

The victims, who live at Dejo Oyelese Street, the epicenter of the explosion, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Ibadan that life has been challenging for them since the explosion.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an explosion had, on Jan. 16, rocked Bodija area of Ibadan metropolis, with no fewer than five deaths recorded, 77 people sustaining injuries, while several houses were destroyed.

One of the victims, who is mentally challenged, Olagoke Odia who communicated with the help of his neighbor, said life had not been the same with him since the blast.

He stated that the house left for him and his brother by his parents was levelled by the explosion, adding that he had since been sleeping anywhere he could lay his head.

“I slept on the street last night because my brother told me that government has asked us not to come back to where it provided for the victims and we have stayed there for three days.

“We were told that another place located at Akobo has been provided for us but I could not go there because it is far from Bodija where I stay, as it will cost me N1,000 to and fro,” Odia said.

Another victim, Mr Taiwo Salami, stated that his life and that of his family had never been the same again, as they had to squat with his brother because his house had been damaged by the explosion.

Salami said that his wife, who was badly injured due to the blast, had just left the hospital.

“My wife was injured because the burglar proof got removed from the window and pinned her to the wall, thus rendering her completely unconscious. We didn’t even know that she was bleeding on her leg.

“My daughter was on the bed when the whole ceiling just collapsed on her and she had to find her way out of the debris. She looked for her mum and dragged her out.

“There were broken glasses everywhere but they didn’t even care when they came of the debris, as everything had been blown off.

“The car had been damaged and she could not drive it. She dragged her mum the road and was looking for anybody who could help to take her to the hospital,” Salami said.

He said that his business outlet was also damaged along with his house, adding that life had been extremely difficult for him and his family.

“You were already used to your comfort zone but now, you have to be squatting. You don’t know where your belongings are. It is a very terrible situation.

“Life is extremely difficult, especially for the older ones who have lived in their houses for 40 to 50 years. Where are they going to go now?

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“It is also devastating for the younger ones, as they have been mentally-traumatised by the incident.

“They have not been able to go to school for a couple of days now and for me, I don’t know where my drugs are. I have to buy new ones, new cosmetics and clothes.

Other victims: Mrs Bisi Olasope and Chief Dayo Morakinyo, both residents of Dejo Oyelese Street and Mr Rauf Isola, of Awosika Avenue, recounted their experiences, which they described as devastating.

They called on government to be sincere with the integrity test set to be conducted on the houses around the area so that they would not further lose their property.

The residents also appealed for government’s continuous support so that people could be able to pick the pieces of their lives and stabilise.

(NAN)

Residents of the immediate and external environments affected by the recent blast in Ibadan under the aegis of the Bodija Estate Residents Association (BERA) have appealed to the government at both the federal and state levels to be thorough in the investigation of the cause of the recent blast that rocked Dejo Oyelese street, Adeyi Area, Old Bodija, Ibadan last week.

The residents said the outcome will serve as a learning curve and yardstick to preventing likely future recurrence by creating more awareness and punitive measures against perpetrators.

This is as the residents said their records have still indicated that about eight or nine persons are still yet to be accounted for since the incident.

President of BERA, Dr Muyiwa Bamgbose appealed on Wednesday during an emergency meeting of the residents and a press conference held at Arigidi Street.

The meeting also allowed some victims of the incident to narrate their experiences and ordeals as a way of correcting some misgivings about the incident.

While thanking the state government for the response in providing succour to the victims, the BERA President said more still needs to be learnt and done in meeting up with international standards on rescue efforts.

Bamgbose said: “Government should not take this thing at face value. They must dig deep to unravel the cause of the explosion.

“It is dangerous just to assume that it was dynamite that led to the explosion without concluding the thorough investigation. We are pleading that necessary things should be done to ascertain the true causes and those behind it.

“What happened was beyond our imagination. No one could have believed or imagined the presence of such dangerous things in our estate.

“Our concern was that lives were lost, homes and buildings were damaged and some people are still missing. We should not take anything at face value.

“Based on what we have gathered, between eight and nine persons have not been accounted for. The level of injury is far more than what was reported because many people didn’t report themselves in any of the designated hospitals by the government.

“We need indebt research to find out and analyse what happened. Our rescue efforts were not well organized. We can improve on it. Yes, it is the first of its kind of an incident, the government didn’t do badly but we can up our game for future needs.”

He said with the development, the Association is launching an initiative to help residents know each other batter tagged “Know-Your-Neighbour” under the Smart Bodija initiative

“Almost 8-9 people are still missing or yet to be accounted for. A lot of people paid for their medical treatment because they didn’t go to any of the designated hospitals.

“We appreciate some of these hospitals too because some of them initially started treating people without taking records as a way of giving first aid to victims before the government announced to take care of medical bills.

“Also, there are some people who could not go to a hotel to claim free accommodation but it could have been better if there was a card or tag that they could take there.

“We are concerned that our government could even be shortchanged with some of these sincere efforts. The government has shown a great willingness from the state to the Federal to address the incident.

“Our best is still short of the world’s best, we still need to learn from that experience of being the first of its kind in the state. We are with that rolling out an initiative called ‘know-your-neighbors’ so that we can know each other, under our ‘Smart Bodija initiative’.

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“The core pillars of the initiative cover security, economic development, livability, and recovery and restoration.”

Some of the residents who gave different accounts of the incidents narrated the extent of the loss.

Mr Taiwo Salami whose house was about three buildings away from the site of the explosion said he lost all his property completely including his house, cars, and every belonging in the building.

He however said his wife and daughter who suffered severe injury in the incident are both responding to treatment.

Mrs Bisi Olasope, Rauf Ishola, and Chief Dayo Morakinyo were also thankful to God for sparing their lives and their loved ones after the incident saying damages to their property and belongings count little when compared to their lives.

Governor Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, January 24, declared that the state and the people affected in the January 16, 2024 explosion in Bodija, Ibadan, will come out stronger, saying that the government has been working out a long-term solution to the challenges posed by the incident.

He added that the government has been battling with the fallout of the incident, including providing medical attention to casualties, giving temporary accommodation to victims and dealing with the security aspect of the incident.

According to the governor, there has also been the humanitarian side of things, especially with regards to children affected by the incident, who are supposed to be in school.

Governor Makinde stated this when he received members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by its chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

Makinde said: “Yes, we have been battling with the fallout from the incident; we have been trying to give the affected people temporary accommodation so that they can continue their lives.

“Also, we have the people who got injured and need medical attention and the humanitarian side of it where some children are supposed to be in school now. So, it is still very early days and we have to look at a long term solution. We are also dealing with the security aspect of the incident.

“So, you need to keep encouraging us and supporting us where possible as well as keep praying for us.”

The governor appreciated the PDP BoT for its visit to the state, which he described as encouraging, noting that it indicated that the body was looking out for his government.

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He added that the visit of the body, which included Nigerians from different parts of the country, was also an indication of the fact that the country is one.

The governor also used the opportunity of the visit to pledge his support for the unity of the party, saying he would continue to play a positive role towards ensuring that the PDP becomes united and formidable.

Governor Makinde, who also charged the BoT members to, as the conscience of the party, put in the work towards steering the party in the right direction, added that he has been reaching out to colleague-governors to ensure that the party becomes more united.

He said: “Regarding our party, I am proud of the role the BoT is playing. I received the letter and have responded to the letter.  I did not mince words in terms of what we should be doing as a party. Unity is important and we have to unite.

“Yes, it is normal to disagree within ourselves because what is facing me may be backing somebody else. But it is important that we seek alignment to reduce those areas of disagreement or friction, and you are already leading the charge, and I want to thank you for that.

“I also feel few people within our party are still thinking in terms of the enormity of the challenges and errors. I want to encourage such individuals not to feel bad because we faced more than that in 2017 and 2018 in Oyo State. And today, we have PDP at the local level 100 per cent. At the state level, we have over 96 per cent because we have some opposition.

“So, we don’t have to be discouraged. Yes, we have a lot of hard work to do in terms of appealing to ourselves and reaching out for unity within the party at the national level. And I want to say that I am here to play a positive role for us to be able to achieve this desired unity. I am fully committed to the great party.”

Earlier in his remarks, the chairman of the PDP BoT and former Senate President, Senator Wabara, commended the governor for his prompt response to the unfortunate incident and for showing his prowess as an engineer by directing that a structural integrity test be conducted on about 230 buildings in the affected area.

The body expressed its condolences to the governor and the government of the state as well as families, who lost loved ones to the incident, as it observed a minute of silence for the departed souls.

It noted that the nation must avoid a recurrence of such incidents by embarking on a thorough investigation.

The PDP BoT equally commended Governor Makinde for delivering on his electoral mandate to the people of the state through laudable infrastructural projects.

Traditional rulers from across the five geopolitical zones of Oyo state have declared support for the state government in its fight against illegal mining in different parts of the state.

The monarchs spoke while briefing newsmen at the press conference room of the Governor’s Office shortly after a closed-door meeting with the governor.

Speaking on behalf of the visitors, the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, commended Governor Seyi Makinde for what he described as his “swift response” to the explosion that rocked Ibadan last week while also commiserating with the victims.

Other traditional rulers in attendance include Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun who was represented by Oba Tajudeen Ajibola and Oba Hamidu Ajibade; the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Oyebola and the Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Oyeniyi Olabisi.

Others are, Onpetu of Ijeruland, Oba Sunday Oyediran; Olu of Igboora, Oba Jimoh Olajide Titiloye and Akibio of Ilora, Oba Steven Oyeniyi; Iba of Kisi, Oba Moshod Lawal; Bashorun of Oyo, High Chief Akinade Ayoola and Onilala of Lanlate, Oba Sunday Oladejo.

Recall that the Tuesday explosion which rocked Dejo Oyelese Street, Adeyi Area, Old Bodija, Ibadan left in its trail, five fatalities, and property worth hundreds of millions lost among others.

Preliminary investigations fingered dynamite stored up by illegal miners as the immediate cause of the explosion.

While commiserating with the governor and the people of the state, the monarch assured that traditional rulers in the state have resolved to deepen their support for the state government in terms of communication and sharing of intelligence to curb the menace of illegal mining in the state.

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The monarch lauded the governor for being proactive in his approach to disaster management most especially in the recent explosion that has left some dead and many injured.

He added that the traditional rulers swung into action after the incident of the Ibadan explosion and have identified critical areas that require urgent supportive attention.

He listed the identified areas to include security lapse, medical, and humanitarian challenges, noting however, that Governor Makinde has already put measures in place to address them adequately and that the monarchs were proud of the governor.

He said: “We’ve been able to identify three tracks, first is the issue of some security lapses, medical and humanitarian challenges. In all these three tracks, the governor has put adequate measures in place to address them.

“Also, he has briefed us on how has been working in collaboration with the federal government, to be precise, the president of Nigeria. Also, the federal government has sent relevant agencies to liaise with the state government to mitigate the damage and try as much as possible to do their best to cushion the effects of the explosion.

“On our part, we’ve been able to come up with views with the state government, all of us as traditional rulers across the five geopolitical zones of Oyo state, whereby, we’ve resolved to provide more support for the government in terms of communication and sharing of intelligence to curb the issue of illegal mining.

Oyo governor, Seyi Makinde has disclosed that 90% of victims affected by the Ibadan explosion have been discharged. 

According to the governor, the death toll from the explosion, which rocked Dejo Oyelese Street in Bodija, Ibadan, last week Tuesday, still stands at five.

The Nation reports the explosion, which the state government said was caused by explosives stored by illegal miners who lived in the area, had left many injured with several houses, properties and cars worth millions of naira destroyed.

Makinde reiterated his promise to bring the culprits to justice.

Also, The Nation learnt structural integrity test has been conducted on no fewer than 230 houses possibly affected by the explosion.

The test included plans to resettle affected residents and avert a possible collapse of buildings.

Giving the update on X, Sunday, January 21, Makinde said: “I commend our security agencies in Oyo state who have been maintaining law and order in around Bodija this week as well as residents who have been complying with directives from these officers.

“Yesterday, the medical team at the Emergency Operations Centre and the Honourable Commissioner for Health, visited two of the hospitals where victims from the incident were taken and over 90% of the victims have been discharged. The death toll from the incident currently stands at five persons.

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“The clinical psychologist has commenced counselling for victims of the incident at the Emergency Operations Centre in Ibadan.

“The operations at Ground Zero have moved from search and rescue to recovery. Let me use this opportunity to thank the Nigerian Society of Engineers who have been carrying out structural integrity tests on about 230 properties around the site of the explosion; 13 houses within 50 metres radius of the blast site, 40 houses at 100 metres radius; 122 houses at 200 metres radius and 53 houses within a 250 metres radius.

“We are also grateful to my brother, Governor @jidesanwoolu for releasing the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) to support us, and for the assistance offered by the team led by Engineer Olatunde Akinsanya, the Director of Operations.

“The security agencies are still investigating the incident and an update on their investigation will be publicised. Our administration remains committed to supporting all victims of this unfortunate incident and ensuring that everyone responsible is brought to book.”

President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has lamented the devastating impacts of the explosion that rocked Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, on Tuesday, January 16.

Bishop Oke, who paid a visit to Adeyi Street, Bodija, Ibadan where the tragedy occurred, expressed grieve over the level of devastation that claimed some lives and properties with more than 50 people injured.

On the ground to receive the PFN president were the Incident Manager, Prof. Temitope Alonge, Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi; Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security Matters, Fatai Owoseni; and a Director of the Federal Road Safety Commission coordinating the recovery efforts.

The clergyman, the Presiding Bishop of Sword of The Spirit Ministries, described the incident as extremely sad and grievous, praying that God may heal the wounds of the affected residents and give the state government the wisdom, courage, and resources to address the situation.

The PFN scribe, accompanied to the epicentre of the blast by the Presiding Bishop of Victory International Church Worldwide, Bishop Taiwo Adelakun; and many other Pastors in the PFN, stated that in all things, it is just and good to give thanks to God. He stressed that in good times and bad times, all humans must acknowledge the mightiness of the creator.

He expressed reservations about the decision of the mining company to store explosives in a residential area, saying that the accident that happened could have been averted if greater value was accorded to human lives.

The PFN President appealed to security agencies to keep track of the activities of the miners and boreholes as well as diggers in the state in a bid to avert a recurrence.

He also called for a thorough investigation to be carried out to unearth more facts about the incident.

Bishop Oke, who was at the scene while body parts were still being pulled out of the rubbles created by the explosion, commended Governor Seyi Makinde who was said to have gone to Abuja to brief President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the incident, for his swift response and for mobilizing the first respondents to the scene of the blast.

The Bishop called on the federal government to “be more decisive in dealing with the horrible level of corruption that has pervaded every strata of the Nigerian society which has allowed this and several horrible disasters currently afflicting our society, resulting in the death of several innocent citizens.”

While appealing to the state and federal government to rise to the occasion by giving necessary support to the affected families and businesses in the area, he also advised that full safety protocols should be deployed to mitigate both the immediate and remote impacts of the explosion on human lives and the environment.

Assuring the affected people, the government and the residents of the state of continued prayers by the PFN and other Christian bodies in the country, he advised the residents’ association and the security agencies to keep track of those living in their midst.

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Bishop Oke led a prayer for the families of the dead victims, the officials of the state handling the recovery efforts, the state Governor, and President Tinubu.

He, thereafter, paid a visit to the former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Senator Iyiola Oladokun, whose residence is a stone’s throw from the scene of the incident before his departure. 

He also commended the emergency responders at the scene for their life-saving efforts to control the situation.