Oyo state governor, ‘Seyi Makinde has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring safety and security across the State.
This assurance was delivered on Thursday in a statement marking the first anniversary of the explosion that devastated Dejo Oyelese Close, Adeyi Avenue, in the Bodija area of Ibadan.
Reflecting on the tragic incident, Governor Makinde expressed sympathy for the victims and their families.
He urged citizens to collaborate with the government in safeguarding the state by providing timely and useful information to security agencies.
“As a government, we are doing all we can to make the state safe. This is why we are investing so much in security architecture.
“But for these efforts to yield the desired results, we need the cooperation of the citizens; we need information from the citizens. That is why we say, ‘If you see something, say something, and the authorities will do something about it,” Makinde said.
Makinde emphasized that the January 16, 2024 explosion could have been prevented if residents had alerted security operatives about suspicious activities, such as the storage of explosive devices in residential areas.
Lamenting, Makinde said: “The people that died did not have to die, the houses that were destroyed didn’t have to be destroyed, and the disruption that we experienced didn’t have to happen.
“To prevent a recurrence, let us all take the issue of security seriously and cooperate with security operatives by providing necessary information.”
The governor noted that those responsible for the explosion are currently facing terrorism charges and remain in custody. He assured residents that the government has initiated measures to rebuild and restore the affected area.
“Contracts have been awarded to fix all the roads in the axis, and the government will soon begin the process of rebuilding the area,” he disclosed.
Makinde also announced the inauguration of a relief disbursement committee, comprising representatives from the affected community, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
The committee has been tasked with designing a framework for the distribution of financial assistance to victims.
“We pray for the repose of those who lost their lives in the incident and for Almighty God to strengthen their loved ones,” the governor concluded.
The explosion, which occurred a year ago, caused significant loss of lives, destruction of property, and disruption in the Bodija area, underscoring the importance of community vigilance in preventing similar tragedies.