Governor Seyi Makinde has vowed to ensure that those who stored the explosives that caused Tuesday’s explosion on Dejo Oyelese Street, Adeyi Avenue, Old Bodija, Ibadan, are brought to justice.
The Oyo State helmsman who spoke on Wednesday at a news conference at the Briefing Room, Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, noted that the death toll has risen to three.
His words: “Those who brought this tragedy on Oyo State will be brought to book.
“Since yesterday, our security agencies, first responders, emergency services and all other relevant agencies have been working diligently as they carry out search and rescue operations.
“Just this morning, another individual was recovered from the rubble.
“I want to assure you that the search and rescue operation will continue until all lives within the vicinity of the blast are accounted for.
“We are aware that aside from the immediate perimeter of the incident, people as far as 25km away may have been affected physically or psychologically.
“We have, therefore, put the Emergency Operation Centre, which is being headed by Professor Temitope Alonge, to coordinate all search and rescue efforts.
“I would like to appeal to our people to remain calm as we do everything to provide succour to everyone concerned.
“Some numbers have been provided to reach out to the Emergency Operation Centre.
“I know the 615 is operational, but there are additional ones: 07049948057 and 08147672009.
“If you have any information regarding any persons who may still be trapped within that perimeter, please call that number and we will respond to you.”
The Governor called for calm, assuring that the state government has been on top of the situation and that it is leaving no stone unturned regarding the search and rescue of victims at the rubble of the incident as well as the welfare of victims and the security of their properties.
He said some measures already taken by the state government to address the situation included the setting up of an Emergency Operation Centre to oversee search and rescue, which, according to him, will continue until all lives in the vicinity of the blast are accounted for.
He added that the state government has made provisions with hotels to accommodate victims and those living close to the site of the incident once they are able to identify themselves.
Governor Makinde had also revealed that President Bola Tinubu spoke to him to commiserate with families who lost loved ones to the incident and promised FG’s support on the situation.
The governor recounted that so far, there are three deaths from the incident and that the number of the injured was about 77.
He warned residents of the state to be wary of spreading fake figures and misinformation regarding the fatalities and the number of casualties.
The press conference came shortly after the governor had visited some victims of the incidents at different hotels around Bodija, Idi Ape and Ikolaba areas, where the state government is providing accommodation and feeding for them.
The governor appealed to those staying in any of the houses within 250 metres of ground zero to move out to government-provided accommodation until structural integrity test was conducted on the buildings.
He, however, warned those who might be planning to take advantage of the incident to perpetrate crimes, noting that security agents would deal decisively with such individuals.
Alonge, head of the Emergency Operations Centre said an emergency team of about 40 doctors, 40 nurses and 25 medical students had been set up at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, UCH, adding that victims injured were receiving medical attention in private and government hospitals and that most of them were in stable condition.
“Apart from doctors and nurses, we have added to our team physiotherapists, clinical psychologists and they were on ground yesterday to assess the psychological state of the survivors of this unfortunate incident,” he said.