The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has revealed that a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) caused the Tuesday night explosion in the Bodija area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital, leaving over 20 houses damaged.
NEMA confirmed the incident in a situation report posted on its social media handle on Wednesday.
According to the agency, the blast’s impact extended to more than 20 houses, with casualty figures still unconfirmed at press time.
“Search and rescue operations are ongoing,” the report stated, adding that the scene was secured with a heavy presence of security personnel from various agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services (DSS), Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Nigerian Army, Federal and State Fire Services, Nigerian Red Cross, State Ministry of Environment, and Amotekun Corps.
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“More resources are being mobilized to support the ongoing search and rescue operations,” the report continued. “Search and rescue operations were temporarily suspended at 7.00 pm yesterday to allow responders to refresh. They will resume at 7.00 am this morning,” the agency added.