The Minister of Solid Minerals and Development, Dr Dele Alake, has directed Mine Officers of the ministry to investigate on the root causes of the Tuesday night explosion which occurred in Ibadan.

Alake gave the directive on Thursday in Abuja in a statement he signed.

“I have directed the ministry’s Mine Officers who are already on site in Ibadan to join ongoing investigations to find out the immediate and remote causes of the explosion.

“We have ordered detailed investigation and our officers will work and collaborate with Oyo State Government to know the actual cause.

“If the explosion was caused by mining explosives devices as earlier reported, the ministry will double its effort to tighten the noose around those acquiring explosives and storing them illegally,” he said.

The minister’s directive is following a lead that the explosion was traceable to the denotation of explosive devices stored by illegal Miners.

Gov Seyi Makinde had announced that no fewer than three persons were reported dead and 77 people injured in the blast.

Also 58 buildings have been reported damaged by the explosion.

The minister condoled with Gov Makinde and the people of Oyo over the incident.

He commended the governor for the rapid mobilisation of emergency response, while urging residents to be safety conscious and report persons or organisations endangering public health and security.