The Bodija Estate Residents Association (BERA) reported on Wednesday in Ibadan that approximately 10 individuals remain unaccounted for in the aftermath of the explosion that occurred on January 17 in the vicinity.
“I think it is now more towards eight and nine persons now, or even 10, whom those in the neighbourhood have talked about,” the Association’s President, Mr Muyiwa Bamgbose, said after their consultative meeting.
“We took the map of the street to them (government) and tried to account for (people) house by house to get accurate information.
“If the person was seen yesterday and was not seen today or you can’t find him again, then you need to get worried. But I believe it’s nearer 10 now,” he added.
BERA, the overarching organization representing all communities in Bodija, has urged for substantial assistance to aid the victims of the explosion in reclaiming their lives.
Emphasizing the necessity for ongoing care and support, especially for those whose lives took an unforeseen turn due to the incident, the president highlighted that numerous individuals personally covered their medical expenses and sought treatment outside the designated hospitals.
“I must also confess that some hospitals, like Redeemers Clinic, were treating victims free of charge without keeping records.
“The hospitals contributed by treating people without asking for money, and some people who could afford it took themselves to their private hospitals,” Bamgbose said.
He expressed regret over the inadequate organization for victims to access the hotel accommodation that the government claimed to have provided.
“Yes, this is the first in Ibadan and I must commend the government’s willingness and response. But there is a difference between being willing and then having the ability.
“People have worked overnight without sleeping. Even the Federal Government has taken the issue seriously, as all its security apparatus were deployed.
“Then, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been working with its Oyo state counterpart. Everybody has collaborated, but our best is still short of the word best,” Bamgbose said.
Lauding the initiatives of both the Federal and Oyo State Governments, Bamgbose emphasized the importance of extracting lessons from the explosion to enhance readiness for future emergency operations.
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“The response to the incident, though quick, was uncoordinated. This is what led to the various lapses still being experienced by victims,” he said.
He underscored the need to learn from the experience and improve on the gaps.
”This is necessary so as to improve on how to respond to emergencies, which could come in any form—flood, fire outbreak and so on—and improve on best practices.”
The President of BERA also revealed that, based on all available records, there has been no indication of anyone residing in the house where the explosion took place within the Bodija community.
“And that is another area of deficiency, and we have taken it upon ourselves as from this meeting to know our neighbours.
”Not just to know who is living in the house but the owner as well, and what the occupants do for a living and really know ourselves,” he said.
Bamgbose decried the lack of demographic records as a problem, adding that it might be difficult to trace it even from the records of the State Housing Corporation.
“People have talked about some people running out of the house when the thing started, but now nobody knows whether they were caught up in the blast or disappeared under the radar.
“Nobody has good record,” he said.