Nigeria Safety Concerns Arise After Minor Explosion at Ikeja Cantonment, Lagos

An incident described as a "minor explosion" rattled the Nigerian Army cantonment in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday. Onyema Nwachukwu, the director of army public relations, swiftly addressed the situation, confirming that the explosion occurred on a farmland near the Mammy Market within the cantonment. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported in the incident.

Nwachukwu's official statement shed light on the suspected cause of the explosion, attributing it to the burning of refuse and other inflammable debris by a farmer cultivating the farmland. Despite the explosion, the lack of casualties provided a measure of relief, although concerns arose due to the cantonment's historical record of such incidents.

Given the recent clearance and certification of the cantonment to ensure the absence of unexploded ordnances, the Nigerian Army acknowledged the potential concerns among the general public. However, Nwachukwu assured the public that the situation was under control. The Nigerian Army promptly deployed its Engineers Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team to cordon off the farmland area and initiate a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion.

Residents in the vicinity were urged not to panic, with assurances provided regarding their safety amidst the ongoing investigation. The incident underscores the importance of maintaining strict safety protocols within military installations, as authorities work diligently to ascertain the root cause of the explosion and prevent similar incidents in the future.