From Tunji Omofoye, Ibadan

One casualty was recorded while 34 others, mainly traders, suffered various degrees of burns in the incident, which occurred at Araromi village, Apete, a suburb of Ibadan.

The governor, who was at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, condoled with the victims of the explosion, describing the incident as "very, very sad"

After commiserating with the victims and their families, the governor said the matter would be investigated.

He noted that reports available to the government indicated that bunkering activities were rampant in the area and expressed dismay that the residents and community leaders failed to alert the government about it.

According to the governor, there are no filling stations in the entire area yet fuel tankers often visit there without anybody raising an eyebrow.

Henceforth, he said, community leaders in the village would be held responsible for the protection of NNPC pipeline in the area.

Families and relatives of the victims, however, complained to the governor about the problem of having to purchase drugs for the treatment of victims.

Responding, the governor urged them to keep receipts for drugs purchased so that the government can reimburse them later.

Head of Department of Plastic and Reconstruction Surgery, Professor Odunayo Oluwatoyin, told reporters that the burns unit of the hospital had exceeded its capacity.

According to him, the unit initially designed to accommodate 12 patients had almost thrice the figure, explaining that contingency arrangements were been made to handle the emergency situation.

His words: "We are trying to carve out one or two areas of the hospital so that we can manage them reasonably well."

There are still conflicting reports on the cause of the explosion. Some witnesses attributed it to a gunshot, but the driver of a Mitsubishi bus conveying the victims, Mr Hassan Wahab, denied hearing any gunshot.

Wahab, who spoke in the hospital, said that a police vehicle stationed in the middle of the road had compelled him to stop, and that immediately the occupants alighted, fire engulfed everywhere, enveloping all.