On Monday, April 1, 2024, an explosion rocked the Ikeja Military Cantonment in Lagos State. The blast was reported to have occurred on a farmland within the cantonment, but fortunately, there were no casualties. This incident marked more than 22 years since a bomb explosion originating from the cantonment had claimed several lives in the state. In October 2023, authorities recovered 642 unexploded bombs from the same location.
The Nigerian Army, acknowledging the recent explosion as a minor incident, reassured residents to remain calm. They stated that a team of engineers from the Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit had cordoned off the affected farmland for a thorough investigation into the root cause of the explosion. The official statement released read, “This is to inform the public that on Monday, April 1, 2024, a minor explosion took place within the Nigerian Army Cantonment in Ikeja, Lagos. The incident happened 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 flammable debris by a farmer cultivating the land. Thankfully, there were no casualties reported. However, recognizing the recent clearance of the cantonment from unexploded ordnances, we understand public concerns due to past explosion incidents. The Nigerian Army assures the public that the situation is under control, with the Engineers Explosive Ordnance Disposal team on-site to investigate the cause of the blast. We urge residents in the vicinity not to panic and reassure them of their safety.”
