The Nigerian Army has reassured residents and the general public not to be alarmed by what it described as a “minor explosion” that occurred within its Cantonment in Ikeja, Lagos State on Monday. According to a statement by Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, the incident, which took place on a farmland near the Mammy Market within the Cantonment, has been brought under control.
“This is to inform the public that on Monday, 1st April 2024, a minor explosion occurred within the Nigerian Army (NA) Cantonment in Ikeja, Lagos. The explosion took place on a farmland near the Mammy Market within the Cantonment. It is suspected to have been triggered by the burning of refuse and other inflammable debris by a farmer who cultivated the farmland.”
Nwachukwu stated that there were no casualties in the incident, but he acknowledged public concerns arising from past explosions within the Cantonment.
“Fortunately, there were no casualties in the incident. However, considering that the Cantonment was recently cleared and certified free of unexploded ordnances, we understand that there could be concerns among the general public due to the historical occurrence of explosions within the Cantonment.”
“The NA 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.”
Nwachukwu clarified that there were no casualties in the incident, though he acknowledged concerns among the public due to past explosions within the Cantonment.
