- By Safiu Kehinde
One year after the explosions that rocked Bodija, Ibadan the Oyo state capital, the government on Thursday confirmed it just set up a committee to work out compensation for victims.
This was just as hundreds gathered at the Baptist Church, Bodija Ibadan to mark one year memorial in honour of those who died in the explosions and those who were injured.
NPO Reports that five persons were officially recognised to have died in the explosions which emanated from a building in the night of January 16, 2024.
It was later said that the explosions were caused by explosives kept in one of the buildings on Adeyi Avenue, being occupied by some foreigners and their staff involved in quarry business in some parts of the state.
Mr. Idowu Ogedengbe, Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde while speaking on behalf of the Governor at the church service on Thursday said that the governor has recently set up a committee to work out compensations for those who suffered losses from the explosions.
While reiterating Makinde’s call for raising alarm over any suspicious activities in the community, Ogedengbe reaffirmed the governor’s commitment in ensuring that the perpetrators of the incident are brought to justice.
“As the governor always say, if you see something, say something. We all may not be able to get across to the governor, but we have some of his aides that are very close to us that can easily be reached. Let’s communicate with them.
“Recently, the governor in showing interest and commitment to the pains of the tragic incident, set up a committee for relief and compensation.
“I am confident that very soon, some of us who are affected by the sad incident will be able to get some measure of compensation.” Ogedengbe said.
He, however, pleaded with the residents to accept with good faith whatever relief and compensation the government manages to put together.
“There is no way we can compensate for the lives of those who have departed from us. But in a modest and very reasonable way, whatever the governor and the government of Oyo state is able to put together, we want to implore us to receive it in the spirit of mutual understanding.
“We pray that going forward, we will not experience such incident again.” He added.