The Bodija Estate Residents Association (BERA) has called for the Oyo State Government to hold those responsible for the explosion on January 16, 2024, accountable and has demanded justice.
Pastor Muyiwa Bamgbose, the head of the group, made the request at the Bodija Estate Explosion Remembrance Service, which was conducted in Ibadan on Thursday to remember the occurrence.
BERA and the Dejo Oyelese Vigilante Group (DOVG) collaborated to organize the memorial service.
In order for people to have closure, Bamgbose stated that they wanted responsibility and transparency as well as the prosecution of those responsible for the issue.
“They will have the assurance that those who caused the problem have been punished and there would likely be people who will not do that kind of thing again,” he stated.
He described some of the victims’ struggles, saying that some are still homeless and others have been staying with family.
“Some still look at where their houses used to be in hopelessly. We hope the support that the government is sending would be expedited and arrive very quickly so that hope that is delayed will not make the heart grow sick,” Bamgbose said.
He expressed his admiration for the attendance at the memory service and urged the community to show greater unity.
He added that the Know Your Neighbours policy was being implemented in an attempt to increase local security.
Chief Iyiola Oladokun, the DOVG Chairman, stated in his speech that the purpose of the gathering was to pay tribute to the memory of those who died and express sympathy to their friends and family who are still in mourning.
He expressed gratitude to the state administration, security forces, first responders, and volunteers who put their lives in danger to save others.
“Your selflessness and dedication are a beacon of hope,” Oladokun said.
He, however, urged residents to work together to rebuild and strengthen the community.
“We must remain vigilant and proactive in ensuring the safety and security of our neighbourhood.
“Let us learn from this tragedy and take steps to prevent such incidents in the future,” Oladokun stated.
Rev. Idowu Ogedengbe, the executive assistant to the governor of Oyo State, added that a committee had been established by the government to assist the explosion victims.
He emphasized the state government’s dedication to protecting lives and preventing similar incidents in the future.
Ogedengbe stated that the prosecution of the incident’s culprits had begun and refuted the government’s claim that they had been shielded.
However, he refused to discuss the specifics of the prosecution.
After a year, some of the blast survivors described their experiences and claimed that the impacts were unthinkable.
Mr. Muhammad Denise, one of them, stated that his wounded eardrum from the blast had not yet healed.
“We are alive, we thank God but it has not been easy.
“Things can be better, but we are still healing gradually; we are yet to get there, but we pray we will get there soon.
“It has been a series of promises all through. We are not satisfied with the way things are.
“I am still nursing wounds; some of us our eardrums were perforated.
“We have gone, and are still going through, a series of medical care. It is healing gradually as we have been told it will take time,” Denise said.
Mr. Muyiwa Ige, another victim, bemoaned what he called the government’s feeble involvement.
According to him, victims who were housed in the hotels were inhumanely ejected within 30 to 45 days of the incident.
Ige said that no details on the arrest and trial of the incident’s participants had been made public.
“The tenant who rented the place is at large, God will help us in this community and country,” he said.
Mr. Taiwo Salami, another victim, also demanded that steps be taken to provide victims with assistance.
The event’s program featured the names and photos of the five people who perished in the explosion, along with prayers for their families.