Bodija Explosion: Chief Bayo Adelabu Pays Solidarity Visit to Victims, Pledges Support (Photos)

In a recent devastating development that ravaged the old Bodija area and spread fears across Oyo State, the Minister of Power and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Bayo Adelabu Penkelemesi, visited the explosion sites at the old Bodija area today, January 26.

Former Chief Medical Director (CMD), University College Hospital (UCH), Professor Temitope Alonge, who welcomed the honourable minister, highlighted that the health implications of this explosion have started manifesting. Many people are affected by coughs and cattarhs. The social effects of these issues are being addressed, but the long term is actually far more critical. At the moment, we have clinical psychologists who have accessed a couple of the victims and survivors of post-traumatic and stress disorders, which often manifest with a lack of sleep, dissatisfaction, and happiness. People as far away as 600 metres, like an old woman who came to register at the EOC, hear any sound that is higher than normal and become tremulous. Some of them are having issues with blood pressure. What we have done here is just to clear this space, and then we can focus on the other critical issues. The Nigerian Society of Engineers is submitting their reports on Tuesday; they’ve done structural integrity for houses within a 500-metre radius, about 1000 metres from the epicentre of the explosion. The Mining and Geoscience Society of Nigeria has done the measurements, which is actually what caused the problem. I joined the governor and honourable minister to appeal to people who have symptoms to come forward. I’m very happy about the development on the issue of electricity. Just now, IBEDC just brought in its truck to take away the damaged transformer. The security agents have been amazing; they secured all the properties, and they are here 24 hours a day so as to make sure this area is secured. Thank you so much; he appreciates it.

Danessi Adam, a resident of the area, noted that there were no residents in the house; everyone had fled when the fire took on dangerous shape. I stood in front of the house opposite where the explosion erupted. My brother has gone upstairs to get the phone; my father was trying to make a call to IBEDC. Our neighbours had already gone out, shouting that people should come outside because there is fire. I was right opposite the house, observing what was happening. The next thing I heard was a boom; it threw me away. There was complete silence and darkness. We could not see or hear anything, then sometimes we started hearing voices—people shouting, and I started shouting for my brother and my father too, since I couldn’t see them. I later saw my brother atop a collapsed building, crying for help. After we located him, we later saw my father bleeding; his body was filled with dust. It took the intervention of my aunt to rush him to the hospital. We were treated at St. Anne’s Hospital, and we have been discharged after two days. We are now staying with our aunt. Now, I get afraid of sound. Before I switched on the light or gas cooker, I am always scared because the explosion was very sudden. Since there was no warning or sign, it happened suddenly, and it was very terrible. Health-wise, I’m feeling better now.

While expressing his concerned grief,Chief Bayo Adelabu expressed that this is really devastating; from what I’ve seen, it could have happened to anybody; lives were lost and a lot of people were seriously injured. The health implications of this explosion go beyond what we can simply see. A lot of people should go for a further check of the eardrums and many of the body parts. If an explosion happened here in Bodija and we could still hear cracks on some fences at Jericho, it would go a long way. So people that were close to this area should be given the opportunity for a further health check because we won’t see these things manifesting now, but later we will. I learned that the Oyo State government has performed excellently well in its swift response to this occurrence. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has also done well; this place has been cleared, and people have been given health care. People that have been rendered homeless have been given temporary accommodation, but what we need now is something that is a bit more permanent in terms of looking at the institution we talked about and people that have lost properties. This is actually the time we need ourselves in order to reduce the hardship and suffering of people. So I’m also appealing to the federal government, state governments, NGO’s, and individuals—that we should show love, try, and provide something that would reduce this hardship and suffering of these people. I am happy that the Oyo State Government has set up an account for donations. I will do my personal best, and I will use my official capacity in terms of appealing and putting a lot of pressure on the federal government to do something tangible for the people involved. I’m also appealing to the Oyo State Government not to leave them alone to complete what it has started in terms of providing succour, accommodation, and relief materials to the people that have been displaced here. Privileged individuals should donate gallantly for these people not to feel the impact too much; this is a great loss. There is no amount you will give to some people that will replace what they have lost here, but we must start feeling ourselves. We will try our best to contribute relief materials and keep an account open for donations. 

He continued. I also sympathise with a lot of people affected here: former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr. Samson Iyiola Oladokun, Barr Niyi Akintola (SAN), Senator Yunus Akintunde, Eng. Idris Adeoye, Taiwo Salami, Hon. Yinka Omikunle, my friend TJ, and others. This loss is not a loss to them alone, but it is a loss to all of us, and this is the time to stand with them so that they will know that they are not alone in this situation. We have been talking about vigilance, and communally, people must not be quiet. When you see something, say something, and you also follow up. A lot of these obnoxious activities happen around us, and a lot of people often keep quiet. You must be interested in the activities of your neighbour; if you cannot handle it personally, escalate it to the authorities, and they will take it up from there. A lot of properties have been destroyed; electric poles have been uprooted, transformers have been drowned, and power lines are completely out. This is where I will also come in and handle to ensure that the management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) gives priority to immediately fixed infrastructure, and I will personally supervise that everything is properly done in terms of replacing the transformers, electric poles, and even conducting the area in terms of power cable. These have to be done. They must not leave in darkness. I’m promising we are going to do that; we will stand by them to see that these pains are relieved.

The minister made a direct call to the chairman of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and gave him a prompt directive in order to restore electricity to the area on time. He also thanked the security agents, such as the Men of Amotekun, Nigeria Police Force, Army, and Air Force, that were on the ground to protect the people and their properties.

In attendance were Hon. Wale Murphy, Alhaji Wale Sanusi, Alhaji Taofeek Olayiwola, Comrade Jibril Aroso, Comrade Kola Adeyemo, Hon. Wale Maranro, Comrade Femi Awogboro, Hon Ajiboye, Hon Afolabi Ibikunoluwa, Hon Ateere among many others.