The National Security Adviser, NSA, has been designated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lead the investigation on the blast which occurred in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital two weeks ago.
The blast which took place in Bodija area of the city left at least eight person dead in its wake, over 100 seriously injured while a number of buildings were destroyed.
The state government has blamed the blast on the explosive stored by an illegal miner in one of the buildings for the blast, even though mixed reactions, from the public on the actual cause of the explosion has persisted.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his reaction to the incident has directed security agencies to investigate its cause and fish out the culprits for punishment.
The president’s decision to tap the NSA, sources in the president informed the magazine may have been informed by the need to show the public the seriousness of the federal government over the incident.
According to hints from Nigeria’s seat of power, Abuja, the federal government is worried that an explosion of such magnitude occurred in one of Nigeria’s biggest cities.
Another source also informed that the federal government needed to respond by sending a high-powered delegation, led by Ribadu, to lead the investigation after some members of the public began to express divergent reactions on the actual cause of the blast.
For instance, a pan Yoruba group, Apapo O’odua Koya, AOKOYA had in its reaction to the incident, last week, accused the state government of cover up, saying the blast may have been an act of terrorism by jihadists planning to invade the south west.
The group accused the governor of the state, Seyi Makinde of trying to be politically correct by not exposing the actual cause of the deadly blast.
AOKOYA in a Statement signed by Col. Abimbola Sowunmi (Rtd) and Ahmed Akorede, President and Secretary of the Group, claimed that the blast was part of an elaborate plan by some unknown persons to invade the south west.
Other Yoruba prominent leaders and groups, such the Pan Yoruba body Afenifere have challenged the government not to toy with the interest of the Yoruba by ensuring that the actual cause of the explosion determined by the government.
In a statement also made available to journalists after the explosion, the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams stated that the state government has many questions to answer concerning the blast, stressing that the blast was portends a security threat to the state and the south west.
According to a statement by his media assistant, Kenny Aderemi, the government must ensure that it gets to the root cause of the explosion to assure the public that it was not the work of mischief makers.
Adams said, “As far as I am concerned, the story of the Ibadan explosion had left many questions hanging in the balance. It was a security threat to the state, that is why it is important for governor Seyi Makinde to fish out those behind the incident and bring them to book.
“It is very unfortunate that the death toll is rising by the day and victims of the unfortunate incident are in the various hospitals recuperating.
“The extent of the damage in the area was great involving many houses. And going by the statement and assurances of the governor, I think a case of such multiple damages should not be treated with levity. Ibadan is the political headquarters of the Southwest region and anything that affects Ibadan naturally has spiral effect on other states in the south west.
“So, the Oyo state government should leave no stone unturned by making sure that perpetrators of the dastardly act didn’t go scot-free,” Adams stated.
