A Malian, who is into illegal mining activities in some parts of Oyo State, is behind the explosion that occurred in Ibadan on Tuesday.
Some of the residents of the street where the incident occurred told reporters on Wednesday that the Malian was the one occupying the building where the incident occurred.
Two people were confirmed dead, several others were injured and property worth millions of naira destroyed.
An octogenarian said on Tuesday evening that the Malian has been living in the house for some years.
“He is from Mali. But I don’t know that he was keeping such explosives in the house. We know him to be a Malian. Everyone knows that he is doing illegal mining.
“He and his family members left before the incident. He saw that the thing was on flames, so he took his children and wife out, and he ran away. Even some people who were aware of the flames left immediately.
“He is doing business in the Oke Ogun area. Only those who were not aware were affected. The man and his family members will still be in Ibadan here. They have their people in Ibadan,” he said.
Another resident, who has been living in the area for over two decades, noted that many people in the area refused to speak because of fear of attacks.
The man who is in his 60s said that, “People will not want to talk. What will they say? What the first person told you is not far from the truth.
“Go and check all the places I have mentioned. If you enter from Obasa, only a few houses are occupied by Nigerians.
“Majority of the houses there are being occupied by Malians. Malians have bought the majority of the houses there. Go and check it out. It is because of our complacency,” he lamented.
