In a revelation on Wednesday, Governor Seyi Makinde disclosed that the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) certificate of the mining company involved in Tuesday’s explosion in Bodija, Oyo State, displayed foreign names as owners.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today program, the governor also updated the death toll, confirming a third victim’s demise in the hospital.
Governor Makinde shared, “We recovered one individual alive today (Wednesday) under the rubble. 60 of the 77 people hospitalized have been discharged.” He emphasized ongoing efforts to identify individuals involved and shed light on the foreign ownership indicated in the CAC documents, stating, “These are still early days. We don’t have anything to cover.”
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Clarifying that the incident was not linked to banditry or insurgency, Makinde pointed out that it involved illegal miners storing explosives in a residential area. He assured transparency, stating, “The state government has no reason for cover-up, and the people of the state should trust his administration.”
Governor Makinde also identified an individual of interest, urging security agents to invite them for questioning. Additionally, he revealed plans to seek presidential approval for miners to store explosives with the military, signaling an executive order in the coming days.
In addressing the impact on affected residents, Makinde noted that those whose houses were destroyed had been provided temporary shelter in hotels in Bodija and the Agodi areas of the state capital.