A new investigation has been initiated by the Nigerian Army following an explosion in a farmland situated within the mammy market area of Ikeja cantonment, Lagos,Daily Trust reports.
The explosion occurred on Monday night in a farmland within the 9 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in the Ikeja region of Lagos.
In October 2023, Daily Trust reported that during “Exercise Clean Sweep,” the Nigerian Army relocated some unexploded ordnances from Ikeja cantonment to Ajilete in Ogun State, 21 years after an explosion resulted in the death of 1,100 people and displaced over 20,000 individuals.
Although there were no casualties reported from Monday’s explosion, it caused panic among residents in proximity to the cantonment.
ALSO READ: Kebbi Govt Panel To Probe Warehouse Looting
Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed the explosion in a statement issued on Monday night. Nwachukwu stated that 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 casualties were recorded in the incident. However, given the recent clearance and certification of the Cantonment as free of unexploded ordnances, we understand there could be concerns among the general public due to the historical antecedent of explosions within the Cantonment,” Nwachukwu said.
“The Nigerian Army therefore assures the public that the situation is under control, as the NA Engineers Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) 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,” the statement concluded.
