January 16, 2024, will be remembered as one of the darkest days in Oyo State’s recent history – the day a powerful explosion ripped through Bodija, an upscale neighbourhood in Ibadan, shattering its calm and exposing a deeper crisis beneath the surface. The blast destroyed homes, injured dozens, and killed several residents. Days later, investigations revealed that explosives stored by illegal miners inside a private residence had caused the tragedy – a cache of dynamite concealed during daylight.