At least two people were killed and scores of others injured in an explosion in a residential area in Nigeria's southwestern state of Oyo, the state governor said early Wednesday, Xinhua reported.
"So far, a total of 77 injured people have been rescued and sent to the hospital for treatment after the explosion at a private residence in Bodija, a district in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo," said Seyi Makinde after an on-the-spot assessment of the incident late Tuesday.
"Preliminary investigations by security agencies revealed that illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija had stored explosive devices there, causing the blast," Makinde said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday.
According to local media reports, several buildings collapsed due to the effect of the blast.
Emergency workers have continued to search and rescue victims of the incident, Makinde said, adding that most of the people sent to hospitals had been treated and discharged. "Earth-moving equipment, ambulances, emergency lights, and security were deployed to the scene of the incident ... Medical personnel are on standby at these hospitals to provide all needed assistance to the injured."
The government would cover the medical bills of the victims, he said, and he promised to ensure that all those whose houses were affected would receive support to rebuild their lives.
Follow the latest news on Google News
