A former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Barrister Muideen Olalekan Olagunju, has raised concerns about the possibility that individuals working for illegal miners in Ibadan may have explosives stored in their rented apartments. Olagunju conveyed this warning in a statement provided to DAILY POST on Thursday.
The statement follows an incident where explosive devices detonated in a residential building at Dejo Oyelese Close, Bodija Housing Estate, Ibadan, resulting in the loss of two lives, injuries to several others, and significant property damage.
Olagunju identified Sawane Youssouf, a Malian, as the leader of the illegal mining activities in the state, occupying the building where the explosion occurred. He revealed that Youssouf and three others, including a Nigerian, registered a company called SDYB International Company Limited in 2004 for engaging in mining activities in the state.
The former lawmaker disclosed that Youssouf, along with others, is involved in illegal mining activities, particularly in Iwere-Ile in Iwajowa Local Government Area in the Oke Ogun geo-political zone of the state.
Olagunju emphasized that Youssouf has numerous individuals working for him in the Bodija area of Ibadan, and there is a possibility that each of these individuals may have explosives in their rented apartments. He urged the government to promptly identify the locations of those working for Youssouf and take appropriate control of any explosives in their possession.
The statement also highlighted Youssouf’s incorporation of a company in 2004, with the directors primarily hailing from Mali. It further raised concerns about Youssouf’s potential involvement with security operatives to transport explosives, suggesting a level of complicity.
Olagunju concluded by expressing the magnitude of the blast’s impact on the area, emphasizing the need for immediate government intervention to address the security lapse and potential threats posed by individuals associated with illegal mining activities.
