One person feared dead as explosion destroys storey building in Ife

THERE was pandemonium in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, on Saturday night when a suspected explosion destroyed a storey building, forcing residents near the scene of the incident scampered to safety, Nigerian Tribune reliably gathered.

Credible sources informed our correspondent that the incident which caused apprehension occurred around Moore area of the historic town at about 11.05 pm as most residents in the affected neighbourhood had already gone to bed.

Though details surrounding the cause of the incident were still sketchy as of the time of filing this report, eyewitness explained that the blast might have been precipitated by an improvised explosive device, where one person was reportedly feared dead.

Eyewitnesses further hinted a pharmaceutical firm, identified as Ebenco Pharmacy was located inside the building destroyed by the explosion.

One of the sources, who pleaded anonymity disclosed that an unidentified man, who was critically injured at the back of the building was subsequently rushed to the Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, where he later died early Sunday morning.

The explosion brought down the building and also damaged adjoining structures in the area, while two policemen were spotted at the scene of the incident.

Reacting to the incident during a chat with journalists in Ile-Ife, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi said there was a dispute over the building by the family members of the deceased owner, assuring that elders of Ife at the community level would intervene over the matter.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs Folasade Odoro said that the development was not as a result of the explosion, saying that it was just a mere fire incident.