Peter Obi has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of the explosion that occurred in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, on Tuesday night.
The explosion, which was reportedly caused by explosives used for illegal mining, killed three people and injured 77 others, according to the National Emergency Management Agency.
The blast also damaged more than 20 buildings in the Bodija area of the city.
Obi, who was a presidential aspirant for the 2023 general elections, posted a message on his social media platform, X, on Wednesday, expressing his sympathy to those affected by the unfortunate incident.
“My heart goes out to all families affected by the explosion in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, yesterday. The explosion rocked some parts of the city on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. Unfortunately, precious lives were lost, and many of our brothers and sisters were injured in the tragic incident,” he wrote.
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“While commiserating with the government and people of Oyo State over this sad incident, I thank them for their swift response to the situation, which has so far restored order in the area,” he added.
He also thanked the first-aid emergency responders for their efforts to search for and rescue the victims.
He expressed his hope that the investigation launched by the state government would reveal the cause of the incident and prevent future occurrences.
“Thankfully, the government of Oyo State has announced a wide-scale investigation into the incident. Hopefully, we will unravel the cause of the incident and forestall future occurrences,” he said.
Obi also urged Nigerians to pray for the country, remain law-abiding, and work together for a better nation, especially in the face of the many challenges facing the nation.
He prayed that God would grant eternal rest to the dead, quick recovery to the injured, and heal the land.