On Thursday, the Nigerian Army declared that it had already disposed of 642 unexploded explosives that were found at the Ikeja Military Cantonment.
On October 10, 2023, the service began the removal and disposal of bombs from the cantonment under the codename “Exercise Clean Sweep.”
The Army stated in a statement released on Thursday by Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, its Director of Public Relations, that the service was scheduled for Saturday, November 18, 2023, at the Nigerian Army Range in Owode Ajilete, Ogun State, for the ultimate disposal of the unexploded bombs.
It stated: “On Tuesday, October 10, 2023, an exercise known as Execise Clean Sweep began, clearing the site of the 2002 Ikeja Cantonment Bomb detonation of unexploded munitions. The exercise has progressed to a more advanced level, yielding the recovery of unexploded ordnance of various calibers, 642 of which were expertly disposed of at the NA Range in Owode Ajilete on October 27, 2023.Following the conclusion of the exercise’s search and recovery phase, the site’s final examination has officially started.
According to the exercise plan, which was outlined during the press conference and flag-off by Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja on October 10, 2023, a final unexploded ordnance disposal task will be carried out at the Nigerian Army Range in Owode Ajilete, Ogun State, on Saturday, November 18, 2023, upon completion of the site inspection. In light of this, UXOs would be moved from Ikeja Cantonment to NA Range, Owode Ajilete. The detonation drill would also be accompanied by loud noises.
He warned locals not to panic even though he said there might be explosions nearby.
“Therefore, people in the general public, particularly those who live in the vicinity of Owode, Ajilete, and its environs, are requested to please not panic upon hearing the sound of explosions, but rather to proceed with their regular activities, as appropriate safety precautions have been put in place to guarantee the safety of life and property throughout the exercise,” the statement continued.