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The Oyo State government has identified three Malian natives as suspects in connection with the recent explosion in Bodija, Ibadan, and is actively pursuing their prosecution.
According to the Special Adviser to the Oyo Governor, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, the suspects include immediate and extended family members of the individual who leased the property but who purportedly left Nigeria three years ago due to health reasons.
Owoseni added that the suspects, who have fled the scene of the explosion, are also under scrutiny.
He made the statement while speaking to journalists at the Oyo governor's office in Ibadan.
Owoseni revealed that despite challenges in apprehending those who fled to Mali following the country's departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the state is seeking assistance from Interpol.
Owoseni clarified that while interrogation and investigation continue, initial findings have cleared a person whose name circulated on social media from involvement in the explosion.
The explosion, triggered by a water gel explosive ignited by an electric spark, prompted an integrity test on surrounding structures. The Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, Mr. Mbim Okutiyang, reported that out of 282 houses examined within a 500-meter radius, four were deemed unfit for habitation and marked for demolition.
Medical assessments revealed that five out of 80 victims remain hospitalized, with one undergoing treatment for spinal cord injury and others having undergone surgeries for lower limb injuries. Four victims suffered perforated eardrums due to the blast's high decibels, with surgical repair recommended.
Residents experiencing respiratory issues following the incident were advised to seek medical assistance from the Emergency Operations Centre. Clinical psychologists have been mobilized to assist victims and residents dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorders.
