*Death toll rises to 12
*FG awaits forensic report
Mrs. Toyin Camara, Nigerian wife of Camara Momodu, the Malian national in whose residence a large number of dynamites allegedly used for illegal mining activities exploded in Ibadan, Oyo State, has been arrested by the police.
She was arrested on Sunday, January 21, within the precincts of the Redeemer Hospital, Ibadan, the state capital, where her son who was among those injured in blast was receiving treatment.
Apparently conscious of the danger posed by the explosives stored in the apartment, Momodu’s family and some staff had evacuated the building, a three bedroom twin duplex following a fire outbreak suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault some minutes before the explosion
This was even as residents of houses in the neighbourhood who noticed that fire had engulfed the building thronged to the scene in their numbers in a bid to render help, oblivious that the occupants had fled and there were explosives stored in the premises.
Police detectives at the Criminal Investigation Department of the Oyo State Police Command had been on the trail of Momodu’s wife and other family members, as investigation into the deadly explosion intensified to unravel the sources of the explosives and those involved in illegal mining activities.
It was however learned on Sunday that the prime suspect, Momodu, is suffering a kidney-related ailment and had travelled over two years ago to Mali, his country for treatment. He was also said to have suffered a double jeopardy in his home country where he was robbed by gangsters.
While away in Mali, his two brothers whose names could not be immediately ascertained as of the time of filing this report had reportedly continued with the alleged illegal mining activities and inhabited the Ibadan apartment with his wife and children. Momodu’s two brothers fled the building before the blast, but his wife was said to be away from home.
Reports indicated that the death toll occasioned by the explosion which was hitherto put at five had risen to twelve, as seven more bodies were reportedly recovered between Saturday and Sunday January 21, in search and rescue operations.
This is just as operatives of the Police Explosive Ordinance Department, EOD, are examining the rubbles at the blast site to ascertain the type of explosives stored in the building and other vital clues that will assist in ongoing investigations into the incident in which 39 vehicles and 52 houses were destroyed.
President Bola Tinubu had directed that all those responsible for the devastating explosion which has claimed twelve lives and injured over 80 persons be brought to book.
While expressing sadness over the incident, Tinubu said, “It is worrisome that the cause of the blast is being attributed to the activities of illegal miners. Those behind the inexcusable and reckless behaviour that has created the conditions for the sad incident to occur must be fished out and punished”.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government said it is awaiting the outcome of the forensic investigation ordered to ascertain the actual cause of the tragic explosion.
The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development had also deployed Mines Inspectorate officers to the scene of the explosion to join other security agencies to unravel the cause of the explosion.
A statement on Sunday by Mr. Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, said the Federal Government is waiting for the outcome of forensic investigations that will determine the real cause of the blast, the explosives type that triggered it and the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident that led to loss of lives and properties.
Part of the statement read, “Alongside the press statement personally signed by Dr. Alake to convey his deepest sympathies to the people of Oyo State, he has also being at the forefront of working with the security agencies to unearth the cause and put mechanisms in place to avert a recurrence.
“Last week Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council meeting, President Bola Tinubu took a step to holistically address insecurity around our nation’s natural resources by constituting an inter-ministerial committee led by Dr. Alake to come up with a blueprint to effectively and efficiently secure solid minerals, forests, and marine economy, which constitutes Nigeria’s natural resources.
“The committee held a maiden meeting last Friday and has been working round the clock to draw up strategies of achieving the presidential mandate. In the coming days, there will be an expanded meeting with heads of security agencies, which will assist the committee in getting the requisite inputs that will guide it in turning in a robust report to the President.
“The Minister assures Nigerians that the Federal Government is committed to addressing challenges from the root, hence its resolve to await the outcome of painstaking forensic investigations on the Ibadan explosion before making a definite pronouncement.
“The honourable minister believes that in sensitive situations like this, the security agencies should be allowed to do their job, as against acting on speculations. That way, the people are better informed, culprits can be brought to book, and concerted efforts can be put in place to avoid a recurrence”.
