Explosive chaos hits Ibadan: Fear and panic grip residents as city erupts in flames

In a shocking turn of events, the peaceful city of Ibadan, Oyo State, was rocked by a powerful explosion that sent shockwaves through its streets. Terrified residents reported witnessing a massive blast, capturing the chaos in videos circulating online, depicting a hazy cloud and engulfed houses and cars in flames.

A University of Ibadan student, recounting the harrowing experience, exclaimed, “We all heard the sound, and it was very loud. The cloud is cloudy with smoke. It happened at Bodija, and we in the UI area could see the smoke. Even those at Sango and Ojo heard the sound. In fact, we are all in a room scared for our life.”

Motunrayo Adegboro, residing 15 minutes away from the blast site, confirmed the incident, revealing conflicting reports about whether it was a gas explosion or a filling station. She disclosed, “It happened in Bodija. A mall, Ace Mall even collapsed.”

Social media erupted with alarming posts, such as @WillieWinehouse’s tweet exclaiming, “A f***ing bomb just exploded in Ibadan! My entire house and street are in ruins!! What is going on!!” Another user, @the_beardedsina, urgently appealed for medical personnel, stating, “Please Retweet if you see this. If you are a Medical personnel in Ibadan & close by. Please our help & assistance is needed at Adeyi Avenue, Bodija. There are serious casualties there. Please help share.”

Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde

Contrary to the chaos, a video surfaced late in the night, featuring a male voice vehemently denying any impact on Ace Mall. The voice declared, “Hello guys. This is 9.40 pm, 16th of January, 2024. This is Ace Mall Bodija standing. There is no collapse. There is no casualty in Ace. No customer was injured. No staff was injured. We give glory to God for safety.”

While the state government confirmed the explosion, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, issued a statement, assuring residents that the government is in full control and deploying all necessary resources to address the situation. Governor Seyi Makinde urged citizens to remain calm, emphasizing that their interests are being looked after.

As of now, there is no confirmation regarding casualties, adding an air of uncertainty to the already tense situation. The city of Ibadan remains on edge, grappling with the aftermath of this unforeseen and terrifying event.