One Year After, Victims of Bodija Explosion Battle Grief, Homelessness
On the 16th of January , 2024, a deafening sound came from an explosion, shattering the peaceful ambience of Adeyi Avenue, Old Bodija, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Its reverberating effects were felt near and far and created a mood of panic and wailings over loss of lives and destruction of properties as well as valuables in the city.
Residents in places like Agbowo, Ologuneru, Apete, New Garage, Bashorun, Akobo, Sango, Eleyele, Apata and as far as Omi Adio, all within the Ibadan metropolis also felt the impact of the Loud bang
It was later established that the explosion came from some dynamites and other explosives stockpiled in a building at Aderinola Street, off Dejo Oyelese Street, off Adeyi Avenue by a foreign miner who was the alleged owner of the house and was said to have been keeping the explosives meant for mining activities in the residential building for quite some time.
The Oyo state Governor Engr Seyi Makinde’ swiftly swung into action and victims were moved to medical facilities for treatment while displaced residents were lodged at designated hotels as temporary accommodation for three to four months while preliminary investigations were being carried out.
According to government’s report, five lives were lost, over one hundred houses were affected with three hundred thirty -three victims while the miners have since been arraigned in court for prosecution.
Recounting the experience, one of the victims, who craved anonymity, said life after the incident has been unbearable however, she was grateful for life.
We stayed at designated hotels for close to five months, government fed us and gave us daily needs, after we left the hotel majority of us had to seek refuge at friends and relatives homes.
As I’m talking to you, I lost virtually everything, my house was the closest to the explosion site, my car and valuables also went with the incident.”
She noted that majority of the house owners were retirees hence the need for government to settle them handsomely so as to enable them enjoy their rest
Chairman, Bode Oyelese Vigilante Group, Professor Adebowale Lucas, who said the grief still lingers, appreciated Governor Seyi Makinde’s efforts in the provision of relief materials and the initial temporary accommodation and feeding while calling for substantial package to enable them rebuild their homes.
On Christmas eve last year, Governor Seyi Makinde Commissioned a ten man Bodija Explosion Disbursement Fund Committee to provide an immediate relief to the victims but the package is yet to be delivered to the beneficiaries.
Mr Dotun Oyelade, commissioner for information in Oyo State, when contacted said the government spent huge amount of money to stabilise the residents, assuring that the victims, through the newly inaugurated committee would get the government relief package to enable them sort out their housing need
Archbishop Gabriel Abegunrin of the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, whose building was rocked due to the impact of the blast far away from Bodija advised house owners who experienced same in their locations to carry out integrity test on their buildings
Don’t wait for government, invite engineers to carry out integrity test on your building so as to ascertain its solidity”
While the affected residents anticipate government’s action to end their homelessness, it’s also their desire to see the prosecution of the owner of the building where mining explosives were kept.
