Nigerian Army assures safety after minor explosion near Ikeja cantonment

The Nigerian Army says a minor explosion occurred in farmland near the Mammy Market within the Ikeja Cantonment in Lagos on Monday.

Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, made this announcement in Abuja.

According to Nwachukwu, the farmer who farmed the area may have set fire to trash and other combustible debris, causing the explosion.

He claims that there were no casualties reported 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 its 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,” he said.

The incident recalls past events such as the Ikeja bomb blast in 2002, which caused significant damage and loss of lives in the area.