Ibadan Explosion Displaces Late Ex-Deputy Governor’s Family

The explosion that occurred on Tuesday in Ibadan, Oyo State, displaced a former deputy governor of the state, Iyiola Oladokun and members of his family.

Mr Oladokun’s storey building located on Dejo Oyelese Street was affected with its windows shattered by the blast.

Peoples Gazette had reported that the densely populated city was thrown into chaos on Tuesday when an explosion shattered houses, killing two and injuring 77 others.

A close associate of Mr Oladokun who spoke to journalists, said the victim and his family members had been evacuated from the building affected by the explosion.

“The incident which occurred yesterday affected him (Oladokun) because his house is located in the area where the explosion happened. As I speak, they have been evacuated from the compound and moved to a friend’s house,” the aide said.

Mr Oladukun, a close associate of President Bola Tinubu, served as a deputy to the late governor of the state, Lam Adesina from 1999 to 2023, on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy.

Also, the home of the late Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bola Ige, was affected by the explosion.

The late Ige’s house is a few metres away from Mr Oladokun’s.

The state governor, Seyi Makinde, devastated by the explosion, in the early hours of Wednesday, said via a statement that a preliminary investigation by security agents showed that illegal miners occupying a house in the Bodija area of the state capital, stored explosive devices that caused the blast.

“The investigation is ongoing. All those found culpable for this will be brought to book,” Mr Makinde said.

He added that the state had already deployed first responders and relevant agencies within the state to carry out comprehensive search and rescue operations.