17, January 2024
Nigeria: Ibadan blast blamed on illegal miners in Oyo 0
A deadly blast that rocked the Nigerian city of Ibadan overnight was caused by explosives stored by illegal mingers, the Oyo state governor has said.
Two people were killed and 77 others injured in the explosion that has affected seven suburbs of Nigeria’s third most-populous city.
Crowds have thronged the site of the blast as rescue efforts continue.
A man whose mother’s home was destroyed says she was in bed at the time of the blast and is now in hospital.
“The roof and everything went down. She was inside in her bed when it happened. She was rushed to the hospital naked and I’m going there now,” he told the BBC as he was rushing to see her.
Buildings have been reduced to near rubble at the site of the blast and vehicles destroyed. Further away from the blast zone, windows have been blown out of houses and rooftops damaged.
Eyewitnesses say the explosion happened at around 19:45 local time (18:45 GMT) in Bodija, a residential district of district of the city.
It was heard across the city of Ibadan, the capital of south-western Oyo state.
One of the onlookers at the scene is a painter who had been working at one of the buildings that collapsed. He turned up to work in the morning and is unable to find his boss.
“I have been calling him but the number is not connecting and I saw that his vehicle has been destroyed,” he told the BBC.
Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde posted a statement on Facebook promising that those responsible would be “brought to book”.
“I have directed that the medical bills of all victims be covered by the government,” he said.
“We will also be providing temporary accommodation for those whose houses were affected and ensuring that they are supported to rebuild their lives.”
Source: BBC
2, February 2024
Nigerian traditional monarch shot dead and wife kidnapped 0
Armed men have shot dead a traditional ruler, and kidnapped his wife plus one other person in south-western Nigeria, authorities say.
The attackers stormed the palace of Segun Aremu – a retired army general and monarch whose official title is the Olukoro of Koro – on Thursday night.
It is not clear who the gunmen were or whether they are demanding a ransom.
This latest killing and abduction comes days after campaigners demanded a state of emergency to deal with the issue.
Some 50 civil society groups want President Bola Tinubu to make that declaration, saying more than 1,800 people had been abducted since he took office last May.
But the true number of abductions during that time could be more than double that figure, at almost 4,000 people, says Nigerian risk consultancy SBM Intelligence.
No matter how desperate the circumstances, Nigerian law prohibits the payment of ransom money. However, many victims pay up because they do not trust authorities or their track record.
Condemning the killing of the Olukoro of Koro in Kwara state, as “reckless, shocking, and abominable”, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has vowed that the authorities would catch those responsible.
Police say a manhunt is under way. They have also promised the local community they will set up a police outpost.
Nigeria is home to hundreds of traditional rulers, who have no constitutional role but are a respected presence in community life. They are often called upon to settle disputes between local people, and lead cultural activities.
Source: BBC