A bomb, yesterday, exploded at Miracle Sand Beach, located under Festac link bridge in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, leaving the chairman of the Local Dredgers Association, Chief Oladele Pius, dead.
A Police Inspector simply identified as Sanni, also had his leg shattered by the explosion.
Widows' account
From his widows' account, it was obvious that the late Oladele had premonition of his death right from when he resumed work yesterday. His first widow, Omolola who was with him under the bridge when the explosion occurred, told Vanguard that her husband had his breakfast at work. But all of a sudden, she said, he started complaining that he had stomach upset and that he needed to rush home to ease off.
"He left me and drove home with a promise to be back", Omolola said.
At this point, his second widow, Seun, took over saying, " when he got home, he rushed straight to the toilet and when he came out, he said he felt weak and did not feel like going out again; that he wanted to sleep.
He went upstairs to sleep. His phone later rang and he answered. From the conversation, it was obvious that the caller was one of his customers, who said he was waiting for him (Oladele) at his place of work. He told the caller he was coming but went back to sleep.
Another call came in again. But he refused to pick it. When it rang again, our one- year -two- month-old baby took the phone to him but he refused to pick the call. He finally picked it when it kept ringing and got up from the bed, informing us that he was going back to work. I insisted he stayed back home and rest since he was tired but he said he needed to go since he needed to feed his children.
As he was about to move out, he called me to come and lock the gate. At that point, our baby started yelling. He even commented that the baby's cry was unusual and I told him he probably did not want him to go out. He told me to go and cuddle him to sleep that he would be back soon". Seun stated in tears.
Back at his place of work, his first wife, Omolola said: "When he came back, I told him not to sit on the pavement he usually sat on because I noticed his clothes were stained behind. He just dusted the stain with his hands and said he did not care and went to sit there.
The next thing I heard was a blast. I did not know where it came from. All I saw were people running here and there and I asked , baba da?, meaning where is my husband. At that point, I rushed to where he was seated, only for me to see his body scattered all over the place".
The late Oladele is survived by his two widows and five children, born after 17 years of marriage.
Meanwhile when contacted, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Aderemi Ibirogba, declined comment, saying the state commissioner of Police had already spoken on the development and would not want to make further comment.
"The state police commissioner has briefed the governor on the development and investigation is already on. That is all I can say now. But I want to assure Lagos residents that they are very safe as adequate measures are already on ground to ensure maximum protection of lives and property in the state."
Alleged power tussle behind blast
Body parts of late Mr Oladele Pius littered the scene of explosion when news men visited yesterday. The man's shoes, torn pieces of his blue jeans and patches of his blood were also all over the place. The blood was even on the roof of the bridge where the explosion flung it.
Eye witnesses at the scene of the explosion suspected a power tussle in the sand dealers' association as being responsible for the incident. Oladele, was said to have risen from grass to grace as a snacks seller (puff puff), who rose to become leader of several sand associations in Lagos state.
Sympathysers at the Deceased Home in Lake View estate on 18th February, 2013
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