* Explosive experts says blast from lethal bomb not dynamite
FEMI AKINOLA
An independent environmentalist and waste management consultant, Mr. Tajudeen Oyewole has warned residents of Bodija area of Ibadan where a huge explosion went off on Tuesday to be aware of agtwr effects of such environmental hazards on human health noting that the explosion can cause chronic diseases ranging from cancer to acute illness like heat exhaustion. Oyewole sounded the warning explosive expert’s submission that the uncommon blasts in residential area in Ibadan is from lethal bomb and not dynamite as claimed by the state government.
According to Oyewole, such huge explosion witnessed in Ibadan will affect the air, water, soil, and create a messy environment that will affect mental health if human. “ The explosion in Ibadan will definitely affect organisms and growth. It is an environmental factor that will affect every living things by bringing health differences across the immediate environment of the scene of the blast” , he declared. He added that the interaction between human and ecological factors significantly impacts human health, either directly or indirectly.
Furthermore, the environmentalist said, “ One need not be authority in environmental issues to know that with the magnitude of explosion witnessed in Ibadan on Tuesday, its impact would be disastrous in the immediate neighbourhood. The fresh water, forest and the air in the vicinity of the scene of the explosion would by now polluted, there is no doubt about this. Stable climate, adequate fresh water, clean air, safe handling and use of chemicals, protection from radiation, and a preserved nature are all prerequisites for good health which the explosion will deprive residents of Bodija and its environs for some time to come.”
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In the mean time, the sudden explosion in Ibadan on Tuesday will forever remain in the memory of residents of the old city as a result of the level of devastation left behind in the wake of the blast. When he visited the scene of the explosion, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, assured the people that those responsible for the killer explosion will be “ brought to book.”After inspection of the scene, Governor Makinde briefed newsmen and explained that preliminary investigation traced the explosion to Impoverished Explosive Devices (lED’s) used by illegal miners inhabiting one of the buildings at Bodija GRA. He reiterated his promise that the state government will take care medical bills of victims of the explosion. In addition the governor promised to provide temporary accommodation for people whose houses were affected and assured that government will support them in rebuilding their lives.
Meanwhile, explosive experts opined that the Ibadan explosion was likely from a single lethal bomb and not from dynamite as claimed by Governor Makinde. In his reaction to the submission of Oyo State Governor on the source of the huge explosion, Mr. Yinka Ogunsanya, a retired US Army explained that ordinary miner could not have access to what seem to be a military grade explosive. He said a dynamite typically used in mining industry is designed to have a localised damage so as not to collapse mining tunnel emphasising that if police use explosive to break a door, only the lock will damage and not the entire door. “The epicentre of Ibadan explosion has the signature, type and mode of explosive explosive mechanism that can be seen in the damages and signature left behind. The case of the crater of this explosion and the crater indicates the design and its intent. Its outward distance of damage shows it was a mother load of explosion and not dynamite typically used by miners,” Ogunsanya noted.
Speaking along the same line of thought, the President of Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dele Ayankale explained that legitimate mining companies usually have storage facilities at their mine sites noting that storage of explosives in a residential area confirm that owners of the exploded explosive items planned to use them at unauthorised sites where they did not have mining titles.
“You must obtain permit and the military must know the quantity of explosive you’re buying. Then you must stored the materials in the appropriate place in their magazine and there is a register for it. You must
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also obtain permits from the relevant ministry, it’s this permit s that miners takes to a government licenced explosive dealer to be able to any specified quantity. The movement if explosive materials from the point of purchase must also be accompanied by an explosive officer from the Bomb Disposal Unit of the Nigerian Police,” Ayankale emphasised.
While investigations was ongoing as regards the real cause of the huge explosion, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, directed his ministry’s mine officers to the scene of explosion and join investigations to find out the immediate and remote cause of the blast
“We have ordered detailed investigations into the real cause of the explosion. Our officers will work and collaborate with Oyo State Government to know the actual cause. If the explosion is eventually found to be caused by mining explosive devices as earlier reported, the ministry will double its efforts to tighten the noose around those acquiring explosives and storing them illegally,” Alake declare.
When the blast went off on Tuesday, residents of Bodija area and their surrounding communities explained that the level of devastation of the explosion is unfathomable. Houses were damaged beyond habitation. The environment became messy and two people lost their lives. A couple of days thereafter the number of casualties risen to five. No fewer than 77 people were reportedly injured and being taken care of at hospitals.
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