On Monday, the Nigerian Army disclosed a “minor explosion” incident within its Ikeja cantonment located in Lagos State.
According to a statement issued by Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, the incident occurred on a farmland adjacent to the Mammy Market within the cantonment. Swift action was taken to bring the situation under control, ensuring the safety and security of the area.
“This is to notify the general public that today Monday 1 April 2024, a minor explosion occurred within the Nigerian Army (NA) Cantonment in Ikeja, Lagos. The incident occurred on a farmland near the Mammy Market within the Cantonment,” the statement said in part.
The statement indicated that the explosion is believed to have been caused by a farmer burning refuse and other flammable materials on the cultivated farmland.
Thankfully, there were no casualties reported in the incident, as confirmed by Nwachukwu.
Nevertheless, considering that the cantonment had been recently cleared and certified free of unexploded ordnance, the Army acknowledged potential concerns among the public due to the historical precedent of such explosions.
“The NA therefore wishes to assure 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 read.
