Rescue begins as heavy explosion rocks Ibadan

The capital of Oyo State, Ibadan, was shaken by a thunderous explosion on Tuesday night, causing structures to collapse from the intense vibration.

Residents who spoke with Channels Television claimed that the blast wave had an effect on cars and homes that were distant from the explosion site.

“We heard a loud bang around 07:30pm. Dominos shattered, Ace Mall in Bodija destroyed,” a panic-stricken resident told our correspondent over the phone.

The number of casualties could not be confirmed as of press time but it was gathered that victims have been rushed to hospitals while some residents are trapped in the rubble of buildings that caved in due to the impact of the blast.

The Zonal Coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the South-West, Saheed Akiode, told Channels Television in a phone conversation that emergency responders including the operatives of the Fire Service in Oyo State have been deployed to the scene of the incident on Awolowo Way by Adeyi Avenue, behind a Central Mosque, in Bodija.

Also, in a terse statement on X (formerly Twitter), the Oyo State Government said it is aware of reports of an explosion in the state.

“Residents are urged to remain calm as security agencies are investigating this to determine the source and cause of the incident,” the government said.

In an update, the state government said,

“Relevant agencies are carrying out search and rescue operations at the scene of the incident.”

In a same vein, the explosion was verified by the Oyo State Police Command in a post on X.

Images and videos from the event are starting to go viral on social media.

Editor’s Note: The narrative is still being developed. New details will be posted when they become available.

Credit: Channels Tv