The Oyo State Government has reported that the death toll resulting from the Tuesday explosion in Ibadan, the state capital has increased to five.
The explosion caused extensive damage to numerous houses within a 14-kilometre radius.
On Tuesday night, Governor Seyi Makinde provided an update, stating that two deaths occurred on the day of the incident, with an additional victim succumbing to injuries in a hospital on Wednesday.
In the aftermath of the blast, seven individuals sustained injuries in the Bodija area of Ibadan.
However, a recent update on Thursday from the governor’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, Fatai Owoseni, revealed that two more bodies have been recovered, further raising the death toll.
Owoseni told Channels Television on Thursday that the state government continues to monitor and respond to the situation as investigations into the cause of the explosion are underway.
“Rescue operation is still ongoing. As of yesterday, we had three casualties but this morning, just about 30 minutes ago, I got information from the security operatives supporting the medical team that two more dead bodies were recovered this morning,” he said.
Residents of Adeyi Avenue in Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State, have blamed Malian illegal miners for the explosion that rocked the ancient city on Tuesday night.
The explosion earlier left at least three persons dead, scores of others injured, and property worth billions of naira destroyed.
This is just as President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, called on the relevant government agencies to “fish out” and “punish” those responsible for what he called “reckless behaviour” that triggered a devastating blast in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital Tuesday night.
This was as he expressed sadness over the incident he described as “worrisome.”
The state governor, Makinde, who visited the scene of the explosion, confirmed the casualties adding that the explosion occurred at Adeyi Avenue, Bodija.
However, settlers say the blast was heard and felt kilometres away in many parts of the city.
Makinde said preliminary investigations by security agencies revealed that the blast was triggered by illegal miners occupying one of the houses in the Bodija area of the ancient city.
