A massive explosion bashed through a residential neighbourhood in Ibadan and felt across the nation’s largest city on Tuesday night, according to a statement from the police and state government. 

Although both the state and police said they could not immediately ascertain the cause or nature of the explosion, Governor Seyi Makinde said security operatives and first responders have been deployed to contain its aftermath. 

A police statement said the explosion occurred around 7:44 p.m. in Bodija, a key hybrid of commercial and residential sectors in the city. Several buildings, including commercial shopping centres, were affected by the explosion, with charred human remains purportedly captured from some of the scenes circulating on the internet Tuesday night. Authorities were still trying to determine casualties. 

Dotun Oyelade, Mr Makinde’s information commissioner, described the explosion as “uncommon,” adding that “all security service chiefs including paramilitary chiefs and Fire Operatives have been deployed by the governor to rein in the spillover from the explosion. “

“There are various interpretations of the incident, but it is important for us to state categorically that the state government has taken over and is in full control of the unfortunate occurrence in order to mitigate the incident,” the state added.

The explosion was said to have been heard over a 25-kilometre radius, with police sources telling Peoples Gazette some residents in Apete and Omi Adio confirmed feeling the impact.