A devastating explosion in Ibadan, Nigeria, on Tuesday evening resulted in the deaths of at least five individuals and injured 77 others.
Authorities are currently on the lookout for two suspects from Mali who are thought to be connected to the incident.
The blast took place around 7:44 pm in the Bodija district of Ibadan and was triggered by explosives kept by illicit miners in a semi-detached house leased by Mahmoud Camara, a commercial motorcyclist, or “Okada rider,” as per Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State.
Governor Makinde stated that the explosives were intended for mining activities elsewhere in the country.
He pledged to hold the culprits accountable and ordered the government to cover the victims’ medical expenses and provide temporary housing for those whose homes were impacted.
Following an assessment of the damage, Adebola Hamzat, the Oyo State Police Commissioner, issued an arrest warrant for two Malian residents from the epicenter of the explosion who are currently unaccounted for.
A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, informed the BBC that he witnessed two men hastily exiting the building on a motorcycle prior to the explosion.
Bayo Busari, a local lawyer, suggested that the Okada rider who leased the house was “used as a decoy if you look at the kind of business he does.”
The explosion, which was audible throughout Ibadan, Nigeria’s third-largest city, caused widespread fear and chaos as buildings crumbled and debris was scattered.
The death toll rose to five on Thursday morning after rescue workers discovered two additional bodies amidst the rubble.
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The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) criticized the unlawful storage of explosives in residential areas and stated that the mining company involved in the explosion was not affiliated with their association.
The MAN’s Board of Trustees and National Executive Council committed to investigating the individuals behind the explosion.
In fear of another explosion, numerous residents living a significant distance from the site of the blast have started to evacuate the area. Some nearby houses suffered minor damage, with only their windows and doors’ glass being shattered. A woman was seen moving her belongings out of a building about 500 meters from the epicenter, visibly upset.
Fatai Owoseni, the governor’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, stated that the rescue operation is still underway and appealed to the public to stay calm and cooperate with security agencies.