By Adeyinka Adeniran
Residents of Omikunle in the Yemetu area of Ibadan have continued to troop to the site where Automotive Gas Oil, (AGO) popularly known as Diesel was discovered in a household well, raising concerns and curiosity over what could have led to the strange development.
The situation has made the Omikunle compound a centre of attraction in Yemetu, following the unusual discovery of the liquid content.
As at the time of the report, the Oyo state government, residents and other stakeholders are yet to ascertain the source of the substance about 48 hours after its discovery in Ibadan.
It was gathered that the discovery of the substance has created fear in the minds of the residents and the people living in the neighbourhood.
Some of the residents lamented that they have fetched water from the same well in the past without the discovery of any substance.
One of the residents of the affected building in Omikunle compound who identifies herself as Bukola Olakunle disclosed that the substance was discovered on Saturday.
“The discovery of the substance suspected to be Diesel was discovered on Saturday when I was trying to draw water from the well.
“Instead of clean water, what I discovered inside the drawer was a substance suspected to be diesel. I raised the alarm that eventually drew the attention of other people living in the neighbourhood.
“The security operatives were drafted to the scene. Since then the well has been under lock and key. The most surprising aspect of it is that nobody has come up with their findings including government representatives.”
Speaking in the same vein, another resident, identifies as Fatima Gafar queried the discovery of the substance that supposed to be the by-product of the Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as petrol.
She however reasoned that the discovery might be a leakage from the underground tanks of the filling stations in the neighbourhood.
In its preliminary findings, the police suggested that the fuel may have leaked from an underground storage tank.
Officials of the Ministry of Environment were also on ground on Monday to take samples for further analysis, promising to provide clarity once investigations are complete.
But, one major point of suspicion is a mast located beside the house, which, some residents noted that, may have been the source of the leakage.
As at the time of this report, the place remains cordoned off and security agents manning the place.
