Following the earlier report of the explosion in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, a survivor, Adeleke, confirmed he had lost his elder brother in the explosion.
Recall that the incident happened within Dejo Oyelese Street in Bodija, Ibadan on Tuesday night.
Footage revealing smoky clouds and flaming buildings, including cars, was previously shared on the internet.
The victim disclosed in an interview with Lagelu FM, an Ibadan-based radio station that he and his deceased brother were playing tennis at the nearby hotel before his brother opted to get some items outside the facility.
Adeleke added that he was shocked to see how the detonation pierced the intestine of his brother before he was moved to Adeoyo General Hospital.
The deceased brother was disclosed as Oladipupo.
Olaitan Okanlawon, another victim, stated that the incident that occurred at about 7 p.m. left a cut on one of his kids’ heads.
“My spouse and the children were inside with me. “One of my kids has a cut on his forehead and is currently being catered for; we have moved out our stuff to the hotel,” she said. “And we began to perceive bizarre noises and trembling,” she continued.
“The situation became apparent after we noticed wreckage across our window”
In response, the state governor, Seyi Makinde, stated that immediate security agency examinations indicated that the explosion which shook the surrounding area was triggered by explosive substances that had been concealed by unlicensed miners.
Some portions of the governor’s office, secretariat, Oyo State House of Assembly, Chief Bola Ige’s residence (the former attorney general and minister of justice), and several buildings in Ologuneru, Apete, New Garage, Bashorun, Akobo, Sango, and Eleyele were reportedly affected following the blast.
A couple of minutes before 8 p.m., major locations in the city of Ibadan and surrounding areas felt the ground vibrate.
Vanguard gathered evidence that the loud sound of the blast shook the University College Hospital’s School of Nursing hostel, breaking each window.
The Governor of the state, in his visit to the site stated that investigations into the incident had been instituted and those proven to be at fault would face the legal consequences.
The number of casualties from the incident is yet to be ascertained as there is a continuous search for them. Security operatives including soldiers were deployed to prevent any breakdown in law and order.