Explosion rocks Ibadan, number of casualties yet unknown

The Oyo State Government Tuesday evening confirmed what it described as “an uncommon explosion” which rocked some parts of Ibadan around 8 p.m.

The state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, gave the confirmation in a statement.

He however acknowledged that there were various interpretations of the incident.

“But it is important for us to state categorically that the state government has taken over and in full control of the unfortunate occurrence in order to mitigate the incident,” the Commissioner said.

Oyelade disclosed that security service chiefs, including those of the para-military, as well as Fire Service operatives, have been deployed by the state governor, Mr Seyi Makinde.

“This is to rein in the spill-over from the explosion,” he added.

The Commissioner said Gov. Makinde has implored citizens to calm down and be rest assured that their interests are being looked after.

The explosion was said to have occurred at a private building at Dejo Oyelese street, Adeyi area of Bodija in Ibadan.

Unconfirmed reports say the explosion affected about four buildings in the area, with windows shattered and walls brought down and a number of injuries recorded.

The impact of the explosion was also said to have affected dozens of buildings in nearby areas such as Sango, Mokola, University College Hospital (UCH), Agodi and Ojoo.

Other areas in Ibadan such as Eleiyele and Ologuneru also felt the impact of the explosion.

Already, bomb detectors of the Nigeria Police Force, as well as men of the Nigerian Army, Fire Service and other security bodies are presently at the Adeyi area.

Meanwhile, the city is awash with reports that some persons injured as a result of the explosion have been rushed to some hospitals.

Meanwhile, the Police Command in Oyo State says it is yet to ascertain the nature or cause of Tuesday’s explosion in Ibadan, as well as the number of casualties.

In a statement by the Oyo State Police Command in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) said, “Explosion around Dejo Oyelese Street Bodija Ibadan around 7:44pm today Tuesday 17/01/2024.

“The cause of the explosion is unknown. Number of Dead and Injured yet unknown as search continues. Ample deployment on ground. Updates coming up soon.”

The explosion was recorded to have happened around 7:44 p.m. at Dejo Oyelese Street in the Bodija area of Ibadan.

The PPRO disclosed that the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Adebola Hamzat, has already in the company of some senior officers and other responders conducted an on-the-spot assessment.

“The Commissioner and the other officers have been at the forefront of rescue operations.

“The Oyo State Police Command has also deployed armed and plain-cloth officers to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

“So, updates are coming up soon,” he assured.

Some early reports had speculated that the incident was a plane crash, while some said it was an earth tremor occurrence. Others even had it as a bomb explosion, while several others linked it to a fire incident at a popular mall in the Bodija area. There were also sightings of a crater at the ‘purported’ ground zero of the explosion, where a bungalow used to be.