- Police Command, Oyo Government React
From the situation of things in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State, residents are in for a rather very long night because of the explosion that rocked the Bodija section of the sprawling city at about 8pm on Tuesday.
PMParrot reporters who moved around the affected sections of Bodija reported that it is too early to start counting houses and human causalities.
It was gathered that the explosion could have been caused by dynamites kept by a construction company in a house or a vehicle in the community.
See video here:
Our reporters sent in hazy images and videos recorded of residents especially from Dejo Oyelese street at Old Bodija and other adjoining streets crying for help.
A video of a resident being ferried away from the scene in Bodija by volunteers was also seen by PMParrot.
Residents of prominent Nigerians including that late Chief Bola Ige, Oba Kola Adegbola and so many others were affected.
A resident informed that the actual situation of things will be clearer in the morning when everybody will be able to count their losses.
In another related development, the video of the remains of some victims was seen and has since been trending online.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command on Tuesday night confirmed that there was an explosion in Dejo Oyelese Street in the Bodija area of Ibadan, the state capital.
The command, however, said the number of casualties in the incident is still unknown, adding that there has been ample deployment of their men to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
In the meantime, Oyo State government headed by Engineer Seyi Makinde, has urged residents not to panic.
A statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, read:
“Residents of Ibadan and immediate environ experienced an uncommon explosion about 8pm this evening.
“There are various interpretations of the incident but it is important for us to state categorically that the state government has taken over and in the full control of the unfortunate occurrence in in order to mitigate the incident.
“All security service chiefs including para military chiefs and Fire Operatives have been deployed by the governor to Reign in the spillover from the explosion.
“His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde therefore implores citizens to calm down and be rest assured that their interests are being looked after”.
Packaged by Olayinka Agboola, Lanre Olabisi and Dare Raji
