The Nigerian Army has confirmed that an explosion, on Monday, rocked the Ikeja Military Cantonment in Lagos State.
The explosion was reported to have taken place on a farmland within the cantonment area.
As at press time, there was limited information regarding the details of the explosion and no casualties have been reported.
Recall that a devastating bomb explosion occurred in the cantonment on January 27, 2002, resulting in fatalities and displacing numerous individuals. In October 2023, 642 unexploded bombs were found and recovered from the cantonment by military services.
The Nigerian Army has classified the recent explosion as a minor incident and has advised residents to stay calm.
In a statement issued by Maj Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Public Relations for the Army, it was mentioned that the Engineers Explosive Ordnance Disposal team has secured the site of the explosion for a thorough investigation into its cause.
The statement read, “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 which occurred on a farmland near the Mammy Market within the cantonment is suspected to have been triggered by 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 Nigerian Army 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.”