By Mohammed Bello Doka
In a shocking turn of events, Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state, witnessed a devastating explosion claiming two lives and leaving nearly 100 individuals wounded. The financial toll skyrocketed as properties worth hundreds of millions were either engulfed in flames or reduced to rubble.
However, what has stirred controversy is the rapid conclusion drawn by the state governor and echoed by the media within a mere five hours of the incident. The official narrative attributes the explosion to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) allegedly stockpiled by illegal miners. This swift declaration has raised eyebrows, questioning the haste in pointing fingers without allowing due investigation.
The public is left pondering: How did the state and media hastily determine the cause of the explosion? Was there any prior knowledge possessed by the state government about the activities of illegal miners, both in the state and at the explosion site, prompting such a swift proclamation?
The logical follow-up question emerges: If the governor is confident in identifying the cause, does this imply awareness of the individuals behind the illegal activities, specifically the alleged illegal marketers of the explosives? Moreover, the concern lingers on whether the governor's prompt statements have preemptively influenced the course of ongoing investigations.
As citizens anxiously await the findings of the inquiry, skepticism surrounds the ability of security agencies to contradict the governor's narrative, should the investigation yield results contradictory to the initial assertions. The Ibadan explosion has not only claimed lives and properties but has ignited a flame of uncertainty, demanding thorough and unbiased investigations to uncover the truth behind the tragedy.
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