Following the tragic explosion that occurred in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, the House of Representatives member representing Oluyole Federal Constituency, has called for a thorough investigation into the incident. The explosion, reportedly caused by illegal mining activities, resulted in multiple casualties, injuries, and extensive property damage.
In a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Lekan Olusada, Akande-Sadipe expressed deep concern about the storage of explosives in a residential neighborhood and demanded the arrest of the suspected miners responsible for the explosion.
The lawmaker emphasized the need to understand the causes of the incident to prevent similar tragedies in the future and ensure the safety of communities.
Akande-Sadipe stated, “In these trying times, let us unite in grief, support one another, and extend a helping hand to those in need. May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and may their families find the strength to endure this painful loss. I am urging relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the causes of the explosion and immediately arrest those responsible.”
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu expressed sadness over the explosion, which resulted in at least two fatalities and around 80 injuries. Tinubu called for the identification and punishment of those behind the “inexcusable and reckless behavior” that led to the explosion, emphasizing the attributed cause to illegal mining activities.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde also visited the scene of the explosion and revealed that preliminary investigations by security agencies pointed to explosive devices stored by illegal miners as the cause.
He assured that further investigations were ongoing, and anyone found culpable would be brought to justice.
The incident has sparked concerns about the safety of residential areas and the need for stringent measures to regulate mining activities to prevent future tragedies.