Ibadan blast: Alleged illegal miner, a Malian, exposed
Khalid ABRAHAM
Ibadan, capital of Oyo state, got in the news Monday following a deadly explosion that rocked parts of the city – Old Bodija area – which left according to the governor of the state, Engr Seyi Makinde, three persons dead (as at Wednesday evening), 77 persons injured and several properties wrecked including houses, vehicles and so on. The impact of the explosion reverberated throughout Ibadan with many initially fearing it was an earthquake.
A scene of destruction
More destructions
A former governor of old Oyo state, late Chief Bola Ige; a former deputy governor of the state, Iyiola Oladokun; a former governorship aspirant in the state, Chief Niyi Akintola SAN; late Ondo state governor Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, parts of Oyo state government secretariat including the ministry of education, science and technology; and several others’ lost properties of various types to the blast.
Niyi Akintola according to a report obtained by ogbomisoinsightonline.com wrote: “This is what remains of my modest contributions to hospitality businesses in Ibadaland just after the explosions of last night in Bodija. It is a posh hotel in a posh area known as ‘House 40” on Dejo Oyelese Street . Bodiam.
“I recalled that some of our colleagues on this platform who had at one time enjoyed the hospitality of the modest 24 beds which include 8 suites, 3 chalets and 13 standard rooms are Alariwo, Wole Iyamu SAN, H,E. Iyiola Oladokun (whose residence) that shared a fence with my house 40 was completely destroyed. Other members of the Bar whose properties were destroyed on the street include the Late Chief Bola Ige SAN, the late Chief Bandele Aiku SAN, and an hospitality building said to belong to the late Governor of Ondo state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN.. My 3 Other properties on Alabiamo Street, Adeyi Street and Adenuga Street were also slightly damaged with removed roof, removed POP ceilings, sliding doors, air-conditionals and several electrical applications. Oh my God, it is terrible.
“As I write this with my hands trembling, some guests and 3 hotel staff are in the hospital but we thank God that no casuality was recorded. What a way to start a new year? I need your prayers please.”
Also, Oyo state commissioner for education, science and technology, Prof .Salihu Adelabu, described the explosion as devastating and unfortunate.
Parts of the ministry of education
According to the commissioner, the explosion affected almost all the offices in the education ministry, secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Prof Salihu, while inspecting the extent of the damages, lamented the number of offices affected in the ministry is so alarming and that something very urgent needed to be done, calling on the state government to come to the aid of the ministry.
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“The explosion destroyed Ceilings, windows, glasses, and doors.”
Meanwhile, neither security agencies nor the government has unveiled the identities of the culprit, Governor Makinde only said it was the handiwork of illegal miners whom he alleged stored explosive devices in a residential building at Adeyi avenue in the area.
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In the meantime however, a law practitioner in Ibadan, Muideen Alatede Olagunju, has revealed the identities of the alleged miners whom he noted are businessmen from Mali, a West African French speaking neighbour, with a Nigerian accomplice.
According to Barrister Olagunju the Malians whose mames he put as Sewane Youssouf, Darame Ibrahima, Yattara Ibrahim and their Nigerian counterpart, Bakare Hakeem Oladimeji, have operated in the city for long with Sewane Youssouf as the main kingpin.
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He alleged Youssouf is engaged in extensive “illegal” mining in Oke-Ogun area of the state blaming the security agencies, government and landlords in the area why he had in his possession such humongous stockpiles of explosives without anyone raising “eyebrows.”
Olagunju even accused security agents of helping him in the past in moving the explosives insisting thorough investigations must be carried out.
The write up by Barrister Muideen Alatede Olagunju, tited, “More on Ibadan explosion,” (however unverified independently by Ogbomoso Insight) begins, “I can authoritatively inform that the explosion in Ibadan is the handiwork of a Malian immigrant engaged in mining operations in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State. His name is SAWANE YOUSSOUF.”
It further informs, “He has been stockpiling explosives in a house (unknown if he owns it or if he rented it) for years. These explosives he stored for the purpose of his extensive mining business. How he was able to do that in a residential estate with few eyebrows raised is a failure of intelligence at both government and community levels. To think the location is just a stone throw from the Government Secretariat is damning. His own negligent stupidity as well as government taciturn approach to security of lives and properties have caused unnecessary deaths, injuries and property damage.
“I searched the website of the Corporate Affairs Commission to find that SAWANE YOUSSOUF incorporated a company on May 17, 2004 called SDYB International Company Nigeria Limited with RC 511184. This is the list of directors:
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1) Sawane Youssouf
2) Darame Ibrahima
3) Yattara Ibrahim
4) Bakare Hakeem Oladimeji
“By their names, three of the four directors hail from Mali.
“People I talked to revealed that Sawane has a lot of Malian boys working under him in the Bodija area. It is reported each one of them might have explosives in the various rented accommodation they stay in. Government must immediately determine where his boys live and take proper charge of explosives in their possession.
“I have credible information also that Sawane used police, DSS and other security operatives to move his explosives and other logistics. It shows complicity.
“It is unclear Sawane was in the house when the explosion occurred. If he was, I doubt he would survive the magnitude of the black. Everything within 100 metres radius of the blast site is flattened.
“Lots of documents were found strewn on the grounds of surrounding houses that reveal Sawane to have been involved in several petitions to the police, particularly the mining host communities in Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State. The petitions main gist is cheating. Sawane is not paying his dues to the communities. I saw documents pertaining to a civil suit in court. If I could find the documents on the ground, hold them and read them, what exactly is the job of security operatives at the scene? Important evidence are being lost as every Tom, Dick and Harry is finding and taking the documents away.
“Questions will asked about the Landlords Association in Adeyi, New Bodija. Questions will be asked about intelligence gathering by security outfits. Questions will be asked about how a Malian has such latitude to possess large caches of explosives and store them in his residence. Questions will be asked about our lack of preparedness for emergency situations.”
The alleged culprit was however said to have denied the allegation in an interview in 2020, with accusing fingers nonetheless pointing at the authorities for negligence.
Ogbomoso Insight searched Youssouf on Facebook and is indeed found to have a Facebook account, under the name, “Sewane Youssouf,” with descriptions matching him.
