The PUNCH reports that five people were confirmed dead, 55 houses were damaged while 78 persons sustained various degrees of injuries at an explosion that rocked Adeyi Avenue, Old Bodija, Ibadan, in the Ibadan North Local Government Area of the state, on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.
Our correspondent, who visited the community, on Saturday, observed that some of the owners whose buildings passed the integrity test conducted by the state government have begun the renovation of their property.
Though operatives of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Amotekun security agency were still at the various entrances leading to the scene to maintain law and order, while owners and artisans were being allowed movement with vehicles bringing in materials needed for the repair of damaged buildings.
Some of the victims, who spoke with our correspondent, who visited the hotel, on Monday, lamented alleged abandonment by the government.
They said, “We were formerly accommodated on the bill of the government at one of highbrow hotels around Basorun Akobo, Ibadan, but we were later moved to another hotel along Jericho, also within the Ibadan metropolis.”
One of the affected residents, Ayo Ogunlola said, “We are victims of the Bodija explosion, with most of us having our houses sited within the corridor of the explosion and our houses and property were destroyed. The Governor, Seyi Makinde, in his character as a responsible leader, decided to house most of us who are homeless in various hotels. We are originally housed in Calton Gate Hotels, a gesture we sincerely appreciate. On February 16, the hotel management decided to forcefully evict us using various tactics.
“They stopped giving us food and went to the extent of harassing us with armed guards in our rooms. We were eventually relocated to Orchard Hotels with a standby instruction of one meal per room, irrespective of the number of occupants. Some of us decided to boycott the food because it was humiliating.
“Unfortunately, the hotel has started maltreating us, the so-called one meal has been stopped and light is gradually being withdrawn. We know we are guests of the State Government. We want to make it clear today that most of us are in the hotel today because the result of the integrity test for most of the houses has just been released, and renovation just commenced.
“Also, the restoration of electricity, which is entirely the job of the government and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company is still on hold by implications of no electricity in our part of the Estate. Are they expecting us to move to the Estate without basic facilities? We want quick and urgent intervention, we cannot stand this humiliation again.”
Another victim, Ibrahim Adekunle, said, “It is so difficult here, but our main body, I mean the association of landlords is making moves towards seeing the governor and making a presentation on behalf of everybody. We expect the government to take action. They have written a letter to the governor and only waiting for a date when they will meet with us.”
Also speaking, Taiwo Adebiyi said, “We thought that after our relocation here after three days, they would come to pay us a visit, but nothing like that happened. The only government official that came who was the Director of Protocol was called when the management of the hotel was harassing us with threat to eject us.
“We were first lodged at Carlton Gate Hotels free of charge and the government was only paying for our food and drinks. Later the management of the hotel complained that the money paid for our food had been exhausted and they were borrowing money to feed us.
“When their general manager gave us this information we felt so bad that we couldn’t eat again. They gave us a place for free and only for you to be paying for food and drinks, and you refused to pay. He said that they have spent N1.8 million on each of us and I said that they accommodated free of charge here. The manager confronted one of the government officials that his boss gave out the hotel free to the government and the government is only expected to pay for food and entertainment, but not paying.” She bemoaned.
Another victim, who did not want her name in print said, “What else do you want from me again? One of us just spoke with you, and I stand by his position. He told you what we are going through. He just told you our predicaments, so, what else do you want again? I can only appeal to the government and the Governor, Makinde, to come to our rescue once more. This embarrassment is getting out of hand.”
A Spinal Cord victim, Oluwatimileyin Oseni, who was just discharged last Friday at the Redeemers Hospital, Ikolaba in the Ibadan North Local Government Area of the state, narrated his ordeal when our correspondent visited Orchard Hotel in Ibadan, on Monday.
Oseni, a 300 Level Mass Communication student of Adeleke University, Ede in Osun State, said, “I was working on the street around my area around 7:45pm to buy something from a local vendor.
So, as I was about to leave the street, I heard a very loud noise and suddenly found myself inside the BON Hotel gutter which is out of my street. So, when I found myself there, I was scared and things were changed. People were running helter-skelter, running for their lives. Everywhere was dark. But luckily for me, my phone was in my pocket. So, it was my phone I used to call my Daddy. I told him I didn’t know how I got there. He now said I should come to the Estate gate.
“Our house had already come down and I don’t know where they were at that time, but I was in the gutter struggling for safety. People were running and they didn’t even look at my side. They said he is dead. I couldn’t even see anybody because everywhere was dark. So, I was cruelling to manage myself to the gate. I couldn’t even breathe again because of the dust, so I was so tired.
“My dad and my friends came with a car to rush me to the hospital, that’s what I could remember. And I stayed at the Intensive Care Unit of Redeemers Hospital at Housing, Bodija for four days before I was moved to another Redeemers Hospital, located at Ikolaba. I was just been discharged last week Friday after I spent about seven weeks in the hospital bed. Though I feel okay and feel better I’m not still myself.” He explained.
When approached his mother, who has been staying with him in the hospital for comment, she simply said, “I’m not in the mood.”
She, therefore, declined further comment.
All efforts to get the reactions of the Head of the Emergency Medical Team, Temitope Alonge, were not successful as he never picked up his calls nor responded to the messages sent to his mobile number.
However, a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, on Monday, debunked the insinuation that the government had abandoned the welfare of victims of the Bodija explosion.
He said, “The government has debunked the insinuation that it has abandoned the welfare of victims of the Bodija explosion in Ibadan. The rumour is unfair and unnecessary. Ever since the January 16 explosion, the government has been spending between N15 and N20 million weekly on accommodation and feeding for the victims in the past eight weeks.
“As we speak, the government has spent over N160 million on accommodation and feeding alone for the victims who were immediately accommodated at the Hotels and 38 of them still residing in the various hotels. In the same vein, the government has picked up a medical bill of over N17 million while those still in hospitals are being actively catered for.”
Oyelade also said that two million naira is spent weekly, amounting to N16 million in eight weeks, for security operatives to protect the property left behind by the victims.
On the rumour that some of the victims were ejected from their hotels, the commissioner said nothing could be farther from the truth.
He said, “One of the hotels at Idi-Ape informed their occupants that they would like to fumigate their premises and the government took it upon itself to immediately arrange transportation for the explosion victims to be accommodated in another hotel at Jericho together with members of their families.
“The government does not think making an issue of fumigating a facility is the correct thing to do because such exercise is routine and the prerogative of the hotel owners.
“On the accusation that victims’ meals have been reduced to one, the government sees this as equally spurious because many hotels provide complimentary breakfast, and most of our wards go out in the daytime, hence, the government’s decision to provide dinner.”
