By Iyobhebhe Gift Osareme (IT Student, Ambrose Ali University)
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State officially signed an executive order on January 29, 2024, mandating the control and safe storage of harmful substances, turning it into law.
This decision comes in response to the devastating explosion that occurred in Bodija, Ibadan, claiming lives and causing extensive property damage.
In an interview with journalists, Governor Makinde emphasized the necessity of the order following the tragic incident, attributing the explosion to the storage of explosives within a residential area.
He warned that strict enforcement of the law would be carried out, ensuring consequences for violators, with the aim of preventing future tragedies of this nature.
Malian citizen Sawane Youssouf, suspected to be the owner of the Ground Zero building where the explosives were stored, attempted to clarify his involvement in a statement titled Bodija Explosion: My Side of the Story.
Youssouf maintained that his mining activities were lawful and denied ownership of any property at Dejo Oyelese, Bodija, where the explosion occurred.
He urged the state government, security personnel, and relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the true owners of the building and those responsible for the explosion.
