The Nigerian Army has successfully completed the removal and disposal of a total of 642 unexploded bombs from the Ikeja Military Cantonment.
This operation, codenamed “Exercise Clean Sweep,” commenced on October 10, 2023, and involved a comprehensive search and recovery effort to clear the area of potential hazards.
A statement issued by the Army’s Director of Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the completion of the search and recovery phase and announced the final disposal of the retrieved explosives.
The statement emphasized that the disposal process will take place on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at the Nigerian Army Range in Owode Ajilete, Ogun State.
“The clearance of remnants of unexploded ordnances from the site of the 2002 Ikeja Cantonment Bomb blast commenced on Tuesday 10 October 2023 in an exercise codenamed Exercise Clean Sweep. The exercise has reached an advanced stage resulting in the recovery of various calibers of unexploded ordnances, out of which 642 of them were professionally disposed of on October 27, 2023, at the NA Range in Owode Ajilete.
“The search and recovery phase of the exercise has been completed and has now dovetailed into the final inspection of the site, which has earnestly commenced.
“In line with the exercise plan, as highlighted during the inauguration press briefing and flag-off by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on October 10, 2023, a final unexploded ordnance disposal task will be conducted on completion of the site inspection on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at the Nigerian Army Range in Owode Ajilete, Ogun State. Accordingly, there would be a movement of UXOs from Ikeja Cantonment to NA Range, Owode Ajilete. There would also be large sounds accompanying the detonation exercise,” the statement read.
To ensure public safety during the disposal operation, the Army has urged residents of Owode Ajilete and surrounding areas not to panic upon hearing the sounds of explosions.
The Army assured the public that necessary safety measures had been implemented to safeguard life and property throughout the exercise.
