Ikeja Bomb Blast: Army To Detonate Final Batch Of Explosives In Ogun

The Nigerian Army has announced fresh and final detonation of unexploded ordnances (bombs) recovered from the site of the 2002 Ikeja Cantonment bomb blast 21 years after.

A statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said the unexploded ordnances would be moved from Ikeja Cantonment to Nigerian Army Range, Owode Ajilete in Ogun State for detonation.

He added that there would also be large sounds accompanying the detonation exercise.

Recall the clearance of remnants of unexploded ordnances from the site of the 2002 Ikeja Cantonment Bomb Blast commenced on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, in an Exercise codenamed “EXERCISE CLEAN SWEEP”.

The Army spokesman said the exercise has reached an advanced stage resulting in the recovery of various calibres of unexploded ordnances, out of which 642 were professionally disposed on October 27, 2023 at the NA Range in Owode Ajilete.

“The search and recovery phase of the exercise have been completed and has now dovetailed into the final inspection of the site, which has earnestly commenced,” he said.

The statement added that in line with the exercise plan, “a final Unexploded Ordnance Disposal (UXO) task will be conducted on completion of the site inspection on Saturday 18 November 2023, at the Nigerian Army Range in Owode Ajilete, Ogun State.

“Accordingly, there would be movement of UXOs from Ikeja Cantonment to NA Range, Owode Ajilete. There would also be large sounds accompanying the detonation exercise.”

He, therefore, urged members of the public, especially those resident around Owode Ajilete and the environs not to panic on hearing the sound of explosions, but go about their normal businesses.

He assured that necessary safety measures have been emplaced to ensure safety of life and property throughout the duration of the exercise.