The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has advocated for compensation for victims, particularly students affected by the tragic incident that unfolded on Tuesday at the Poplat filling station in Lagere, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
The calamitous explosion, reportedly triggered by a leaking gas container, resonated through the Lagere area, causing panic among residents and leaving a trail of destruction.
The blast extended to a nearby student hostel, intensifying the scale of devastation.
Eyewitnesses in the vicinity, including those from Lagere, Mayfair, and Iremo Road, shared their accounts, describing a thunderous noise resonating around 5 pm within the premises of Poplat filling station.
The ensuing chaos and ensuing flames led to widespread panic across the town.
Emergency responders, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps from Ile-Ife and the Osun State Fire Service, swiftly reacted to the distress call.
Kehinde Adeleke, the Public Relations Officer of the Osun NSCDC, confirmed the incident, detailing that the filling station, housing a gas station and a mini-mart, caught fire around 5:02 pm on January 9, 2024.
In the wake of the disaster, members of NANS were present at the scene, assessing the damage and extending support to students hospitalized due to injuries sustained during the explosion.
Viral videos circulating online depicted the anguish of affected students, with testimonies highlighting the extent of property loss and injuries incurred.
Josephine Ojo, a 300-level student at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), recounted the horrifying experience, stating that the gas leakage prompted an evacuation, only for the situation to escalate with a second, more destructive explosion.
She expressed distress over lost belongings and the lack of communication from the hostel’s landlord or caretaker.
The fallout from the incident also includes financial losses, as Adesola Daniel, a recent OAU graduate, revealed a substantial cash loss of $3000.
Daniel, residing in one of the affected rooms, detailed the aftermath of the explosion, including burglary, missing valuables, and the challenging aftermath of being displaced.
As the affected students grapple with the aftermath, the Osun NANS JCC chairman, Ogungbe, pledged to file official reports with law enforcement agencies to ensure accountability. Ogungbe emphasized the magnitude of the damage and called on the government to hold the gas station owner responsible for covering the costs of the extensive damages.
Akinremi Ojo, the OAU Students’ Union President, known as LoRdFeM, disclosed that three students are hospitalized, two of whom suffered property losses.
In response to claims of property loss by students, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Opalola Yemisi, promised to investigate but did not provide further details.
