No fewer than 10 persons were feared killed and 15 others hospitalised on Tuesday at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, following an explosion that rocked the Ibadan metropolis.
There was serious panic in the ancient city around 8 pm over the explosion, whose cause could not be confirmed on Tuesday night.
It was gathered that the explosion was from a private residence on Adeyi Avenue.
The effect of the blast was however felt as far as Ologuneru, New Garage, Basorun, Akobo, Sango, Eleyele, and Imalefalafia areas.
Among the affected areas were a section of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Oyo State House of Assembly, the residence of the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, some buildings at Ologuneru, Apete, New Garage, Bashorun, Akobo, Sango and Eleyele.
As of press time, rescue workers believed that some persons were still trapped under the rubble and efforts were ongoing to rescue them.
Major roads were deserted while residents were forced indoors by security operatives, including the police, Western Security Network, code-named Amotekun, and local vigilantes, who took over the affected areas.
The cause of the blast could not be confirmed. Some residents of the affected areas claimed it was caused by earth movement while others described it as a blast of an Improvised Explosive Device.
Security vehicles were sighted conveying the victims to some selected hospitals in the state capital for medical attention.
But the state government, through the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Dotun Oyelade, said all security chiefs and fire operatives had been deployed to prevent a spillover of the explosion.
He said, “There are various interpretations of the incident but it is important for us to state categorically that the state government has taken over and is in full control of the unfortunate occurrence in order to mitigate the incident.
“All security service chiefs, including paramilitary chiefs and fire service operatives, have been deployed by the governor to reign in the spillover from the explosion.
“The Governor, Seyi Makinde, therefore, implores citizens to calm down and rest assured that their interests are being looked after.”
Also, on its verified X handle, the Oyo State Government urged residents to remain calm, noting that an investigation was underway to unravel the cause of the explosion.
“The Oyo State Government is aware of reports of an explosion in Ibadan. Residents are urged to remain calm as security agencies are investigating this to determine the source and cause of the incident,” the X post read.
