There was pandemonium in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday night after loud explosion rocked the ancient city, with buildings collapsing due to terrific vibration which left many residents shocked.
Residents, who spoke with reporters on Wednesday morning said houses and cars far from the scene of the explosion were impacted by the blast wave.
“We heard a loud bang around 07:30pm. Dominos shattered, Ace Mall in Bodija destroyed,” a panic-stricken resident told our correspondent over the phone.
As of the time of publication, the exact number of fatalities was unknown, although information was received indicating that some inhabitants were trapped in the debris of buildings that collapsed as a result of the explosion and that patients had been taken to nearby hospitals.
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The Zonal Coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the South-West, Saheed Akiode, told Channels Television in a phone conversation that emergency responders including the operatives of the Fire Service in Oyo State have been deployed to the scene of the incident on Awolowo Way by Adeyi Avenue, behind a Central Mosque, in Bodija.
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The Oyo State Government has confirmed that there were explosions in Ibadan on Tuesday night.
In a terse post on their verified X page, the state government stated that investigations into the cause of the incident are ongoing.
The statement signed by the Hon Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, urged residents to remain calm.
It 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.”
Similarly, the Oyo State Police Command in a post on X confirmed the explosion.