How The Ibadan Explosion That Killed Two Was Caused by Illegal Miners
An explosion that occurred in Bodija, Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, has left two people dead, while 77 people sustained various degrees of injuries.
Speaking at the site of the explosion, which happened on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, around 7:44 pm, the State Governor, Seyi Makinde, said the incident happened as a result of the activities of illegal miners.
“From what we’ve gathered so far, the likelihood is that you have illegal miners coming with explosions around this area,” Makinde told newsmen. He also noted that explosive devices stored by the miners caused the blast.
Although the Governor did not disclose what the miners intended to mine, Oyo State, home to Lithium, Dolomite, Gemstones, and rubellite, is one of Nigeria’s leading producers of solid minerals, with an estimated annual production of $3.8 million.
In November 2023, the State Government sealed mining sites operating without consent letters and community development agreements. However, illegal extraction of solid mineral resources remains a major challenge in Nigeria.
Although it remains uncertain how much Nigeria loses to illegal mining, the former Minister of State Mines and Steel Development, Uchechukwu Ogah, disclosed that Nigeria lost revenue estimated at $5 billion between 2012 and 2018 due to smuggling of gold. A 2023 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) showed that although Nigeria has witnessed accelerated growth in gold exports, exporting a record N78.9 billion worth of gold in 15 months, the expected growth in Nigeria’s mining sector has been hampered by “widespread illegal mining.”
Makinde said that the illegal miners responsible for the explosion will be “brought to book” at the conclusion of ongoing investigation.
“Preliminary investigations by the security agencies revealed that illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija had stored explosive devices there, which caused the blast. The investigations are ongoing. All those found culpable for this will be brought to book,” He said.
