•Commiserates with Oyo govt, victims
•Directs security agencies to go after arsonists
•FEC sets up committee to review laws on explosives
•NEMA deploys emergency response team
•Abbas, govs, others express shock, sympathy
Deji Elumoye, Adedayo Akinwale, Sunday Aborisade, Kuni Tyessi in Abuja and Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, ordered security agencies that those responsible for the devastating explosion that occurred Tuesday night in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, and claimed two, including several others that were injured, must be fished out.
The president, who expressed sadness over the development and sympathised with the affected as well as the Oyo State government, however, directed security agencies to go after arsonists and bring them in.
This was as the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has constituted a committee to review the laws guiding the control of explosives in the country.
At the same time, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has deployed its South West emergency response team to Ibadan, following a distress alert of an explosion at Bodija Government Reserve Area, (GRA), behind ace mall.
Conversely, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. TJ Abbas, governors across the federation and stakeholders, have also sent in words to the Oyo government and victims of the explosion.
The explosion, which killed two persons and wounded about 80 others and also destroyed several buildings, vehicles, and other properties.
The President, in a release by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, 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.”
Tinubu, therefore, called on all concerned agencies of government to unravel the circumstances that led to the tragedy with alacrity.
He also directed NEMA to work with Oyo State Government to offer immediate and comprehensive relief to the victims.
But FEC, which has constituted a committee to review the laws guiding the control of explosives in the country, said the move was with the aim of determining whether the extant laws might have been violated by illegal miners in the Tuesday night explosion in Ibadan.
The council in its first meeting in 2024 presided over by Tinubu, expressed worries about the incident and expressed the need to avert future occurrence.
Minister of Defence, Abubakar Bagudu, who made this known to newsmen at the end of the FEC meeting, noted that despite preliminary investigations suggesting that explosives stored by illegal miners might be the cause.
He said there was also the suspicion in some quarters that gas might have also been the immediate cause of the explosion, adding that, federal agents were now on the ground at the scene of the incident to ascertain the cause and ways to prevent future occurrence.
Answering reporters questions on the issue, Bagudu said, “The first question has to do with Ibadan explosion, where the governor said preliminary investigation suggested that there were some explosives around the area, where it happened, owned by some illegal miners.
“Well, we have seen that report. There is another report suggesting that it was a gas explosion. So, our team are there trying to find out what is the cause.
“But for the council to be proactive, it has already set up the committee to look into how the control of explosives law was broken if indeed there are explosives around the area where this incident happened.
“That was why the committee was set up to look at the rules to see where the chain is broken and see how it can be fixed and gather more information if this is happening rampantly around the country.
“You all know that there is strict rule in the storage, movement and ownership of these explosives and the rule is being monitored. If there is any case of breakdown, we will find out and deal with it,” he insisted.
To this end, NEMA which has deployed its South West emergency response team to Ibadan, stated in a communique, that it was already working in partnership with other partner agencies to restore order, evacuate and assist victims.
“Casualty figures cannot be ascertained for now. Search and Rescue (SAR) is still ongoing. Stakeholders present include NPF, NSCDC, DSS, SEMA, Nigeria Army, Federal and State fire service, Nigerian Red Cross, State Ministry of Environment, Amotekun Corps.
“More resources are being mobilised to support the ongoing SAR Operations. Security has been beefed up in the area while arrangements for more support to facilitate the operations are in progress.”
Ibadan Explosion Unfortunate, Says Abbas
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has described as unfortunate, the explosion that rocked Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday night.
The Speaker, in a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, lamented the fate of the victims.
He, therefore, called for proper investigation of the incident and possible arrest and prosecution of those suspected to have caused the explosion.
Abbas extended his condolences to the government and the people of Oyo State, while praying to God to comfort the victims and their families.
“The explosion in a peaceful and populated ancient city like Ibadan is terrifying. It is more worrisome that it happened at a time when the government is tackling various security issues and threats to lives and property.
“My heart goes out to the people of Ibadan, especially the victims and their families over their avoidable losses,” he said.
Obaseki Feels Sorry for Makinde, Victims
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has commiserated with his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State, over Tuesday night explosion in Ibadan.
In a statement, Obaseki prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and that God should grant affected families fortitude in their time of grief.
“Our prayers are with my brother, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, the good people of the state, and residents of Ibadan, the state capital, which was rocked by an explosion yesterday.
“As you intensify search and rescue efforts, we extend our heartfelt regrets to all who have suffered injuries, loss of lives and property.
“May God grant the souls of the departed peaceful rest and grant the families of the deceased fortitude in this time of grief,” he said.
Adeleke, Osun Speaker Express Sympathy
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, and the Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Egbedun, have commiserated with the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, the government and the people of Oyo State over the Ibadan explosion.
Adeleke, while describing the incident as sad and unfortunate in a condolence message by his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, added that it was a big loss to Oyo and Nigeria in general.
“It is a really sad thing happening at the beginning of the year. This incident is not only sad and unfortunate but also a huge economic blow to many families in the affected area,” he said.
Adeleke thereafter commended security operatives and rescue workers, who have swung into action since the incident happened while calling for a thorough investigation into the incident.
The speaker, on his part, while describing the explosion as most unfortunate, sympathised with those affected by the blast.
He, however, called for calm as the Oyo State government investigates the cause of the explosion and puts necessary measures in place to alleviate the impacts of the blast.
Abiodun: It’s Monumental Tragedy
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has described Tuesday’s explosion in Ibadan, Oyo State, as a monumental tragedy.
In a condolence message, Abiodun regretted that the wanton loss of lives and the destruction of properties was due to neglect and criminality.
He, however, praised the swift response of the Oyo State government, which promptly dispatched first responders to the scene, thereby saving more lives.
He also expressed absolute confidence that the state government would ensure that the perpetrators of the dastardly act were apprehended and prosecuted, saying the government was on top of the situation.
‘House Committed to Passing State Police Bill’
A member of the House of Representatives, representing Ibadan North West/South West of Oyo State, Hon. Stanley Olajide, has reiterated that the 10th House was committed to passing the State Police Bill to tackle the ravaging insecurity of the country.
Olajide, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on ICT, disclosed this at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, while commiserating with Oyo State government and families of victims of the explosion that occurred on Tuesday night in Ibadan.
“Community policing is actually one of the very smartest ways to police your people. Somebody sees something, somebody knows something, they need to speak at the right time.
“Failure to do so will cause situations like this. So, we are going to reopen that because remember, we’ve also been talking about State Police, we’ll be talking about Community Police.
“So, I think you know a situation like this would actually present an urgency to the matter, so that way, we can get the right support that we need to pass whatever legislation that we need to to pass for this.”
NILDS DG Sympathises With Ilorin Fire Incident Victims
The Director General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar.Sulaiman, has expressed grief over the fire outbreak at Edun area of Ilorin, Kwara State.
The fire incident occurred at Magaji Onikanhun compound, Edun Street, Ilorin, on Monday, and affected a total of 75 buildings and a mosque.
The spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, who confirmed the incident said, 44 out of the 75 buildings were completely destroyed while 120 persons had been rendered homeless.
Sulaiman, in a press statement, described the incident as not only unfortunate but also saddening and quite worrisome and sympathised with the government and the people of the state over the incident.
The NILDS DG said he was painfully worried that many indigent people also lost their means of livelihood to the incidence, especially at this time of economic hardship, when low and middle income earners are finding it hard to make ends meet.
“I feel the pains of my people on this sad incident and I am with them in prayers to Allah for His divine intervention of comfort.
“As people of faith, we have a strong belief that God almighty has power over everything and would see the victims through this difficult and painful moment.”
