More body parts were recovered, on Friday, at the scene of Tuesday’s explosion at Old Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria.
The Incident Manager for the Emergency Response, Prof. Temitope Alonge, who disclosed in an interview with journalists, on Friday, said the parts had been sent to forensic experts for analysis.
He said: “The issue on the ground is that the moment you find a body part around an area, the chances are that probably it is coming from the same person, but we can’t confirm or dispute until we have our forensic. We have just sent the entire details to the Forensic Pathologist and so hopefully, we will be getting an answer, but not immediately.
“It’s not something they do within 24 hours, it is going to take a little while because it will be a matter of DNA testing and trying to cross-breed what has been found. Apart from that, the corpse of another dog was found. It has also been packaged for forensic for assessment by the Veterinary Pathologist.”
Alonge also ruled out the possibility of recovering more bodies or anyone still being alive because the entire place had been flattened, disclosing that the search and rescue efforts should get to ground zero in another 48 hours.
He noted that the search is not restricted to the epicentre alone as the major concern is the houses that are in bad shape, saying the occupants of the houses have been counseled and given reasons they should not go into buildings that have not been given a clean bill of health because the Nigeria Society of Engineers is still busy working on the integrity test of the buildings.
Alonge stated: “Until they certify a house to be fit, I don’t think it is appropriate for them to go in. Well, quite a large number of them are compliant but there are a few number of them that refused to listen to good counsel and we note those houses. So, if there are consequences on account of what they have done, I believe that the government will be exonerated. Again, the integrity test is not only within the epicentre, but it is also extended beyond there.”
Similarly, the Chief Justice of Nigeria ((CJN), Kayode Ariwoola, also paid a visit to the explosion site on Friday evening.
While speaking with journalists, Ariwoola lamented that what he saw was devastating and prayed that God would take care of everything and help the government to assist the families affected.
He said: “What I have seen is devastating. I don’t know who can explain this, but God says He knows it all. God knew it before it happened, and only God will take care of everything. We cannot say government should come and do it but God will assist the government to assist all the families affected.”
The CJN also visited a former deputy governor of the state, Iyiola Oladokun, and a legal luminary, Niyi Akintola, SAN, whose houses were affected in the explosion.
Dominica Nwabufo
