Adeleke, a survivor of the explosion that struck Ibadan on Tuesday has revealed how he lost his brother, Oladipupo, to the incident.
Speaking on Lagelu FM, a local broadcasting station, Adeleke said they were playing tennis at a nearby hotel when the blast occurred.
“Everything was normal until we heard a loud noise that shook the ground. We thought it was an earthquake or a bomb. We ran out of the hotel to see what was happening,” he said.
“He came out to the front of the transformer where the incident happened. His intestines were out after the cut. I saw him lying on the floor, bleeding profusely. I screamed and ran to him, but it was too late. He was gone,” he said, sobbing.
Adeleke said he tried to get help from the hotel staff and other bystanders, but they were all in shock and confusion.
The grieving survivor said he eventually took his brother to the nearest hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
He appealed to the government and the relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the explosion and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Meanwhile, Oyo Governor, Seyi Mekinde has disclosed that the explosion was caused by illegal miners occupying a house in the Bodija area of Ibadan.
The governor said preliminary investigations by security agencies revealed that the fire outbreak was triggered by explosives stored for use in illegal mining operations.
Confirming casualties, the Governor said, “In total, we have 77 injured victims so far, most of whom were treated and discharged and two fatalities.”
Makinde added that the state government will foot the medical bills of the victims and provide temporary accommodations for those who have been rendered homeless.
