Lagos Military Cantonment Rocked By Explosion

ON Monday, April 1, an explosion shook the Ikeja Military Cantonment in Lagos State, frightening the local populace.

According to reports, the explosion happened on a farm on the cantonment grounds. Nothing is known about the incident at this time, and there have been no casualties recorded.

This incident reminds me of the devastating bombing that occurred on January 27, 2002, which claimed many lives and forced many residents of the cantonment to flee.

The military announced in October 2023 that they had recovered 642 unexploded bombs from the same cantonment.

The recent explosion was acknowledged by the Nigerian Army, but they played down its significance and called it a minor event.

Residents should not worry, they have assured.

According to Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Army's Director of Public Relations, the Engineers Explosive Ordnance Disposal squad has roped off the impacted farming area in order to begin a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident.

The statement stated, “This is to notify the general public that today, Monday, April 1, 2024, a minor explosion occurred within the Nigerian Army Cantonment in Ikeja, Lagos The incident occurred on a farmland near the Mammy Market within the cantonment.

“The explosion is suspected to have been triggered by the burning of refuse and other inflammable debris by a farmer who cultivated the farmland.

“Fortunately, no casualty was recorded in the incident. However, given that the cantonment was recently cleared and certified free of unexploded ordnances, we understand that there could be concerns among the general public as a result of the historical antecedent of explosion within the cantonment.

“The NA therefore wishes to assure the public that the situation is under control as the NA Engineers Explosive Ordnance Disposal team has cordoned off the area of the farmland to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion. We urge residents in the general area not to panic and assure them of their safety.”