The Nigerian Army has reported that during its ongoing operation, known as “Exercise Clean Sweep,” it has recovered 93 unexploded ordnances (UXOs), also known as bombs, at the Ikeja Military Cantonment in Lagos. The operation was initiated to clear the area following a bomb blast that occurred in the cantonment in 2002.
The recovered bombs come in various calibers and descriptions, and the Army has been working diligently to safely remove and dispose of them. Despite previous clearance and disposal exercises in the area, remnants of UXOs continued to be discovered, posing a threat to the safety and security of the cantonment’s inhabitants and the surrounding environment.
Colonel Abdulrazaq Kazeem, the Director at the Directorate of Explosives Search and Disposal and Coordinator of “Exercise Clean Sweep,” provided an update on the progress of the operation. He mentioned that the recovered UXOs have not yet reached a certain explosive limit measured in kilograms, and once they do, they will be safely moved to a designated range for disposal.
The Safety Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Oluseyi Oladapo Bamikole, emphasized the measures in place to ensure the safety of personnel involved in the recovery and disposal of UXOs. These measures include providing adequate equipment, demarcations, and trained personnel to identify UXOs before they are recovered from the site.
The operation is a critical effort to mitigate the risks associated with UXOs in the Ikeja Military Cantonment and improve the safety of the area’s residents and environment.