The Nigerian Army has initiated the final phase of the disposal process for unexploded ordnances at the site of the 2002 Ikeja Cantonment Bomb Blast. Under the codename “EXERCISE CLEAN SWEEP,” the clearance operation began on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, and has made significant progress, resulting in the recovery of various calibers of unexploded ordnances. On October 27, 2023, a total of 642 of these ordnances were professionally disposed of at the Nigerian Army Range in Owode Ajilete.
Having successfully concluded the search and recovery phase, the operation has transitioned into the final inspection of the site, a crucial step outlined in the Exercise plan presented during the Inauguration Press briefing and Flag Off by Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, on October 10, 2023. The next phase involves the execution of a final Unexploded Ordnance Disposal (UXO) task, scheduled for Saturday, November 18, 2023, at the Nigerian Army Range in Owode Ajilete, Ogun State.
As part of the planned disposal process, there will be a controlled movement of UXOs from Ikeja Cantonment to the NA Range in Owode Ajilete. The detonation exercise during this final phase may produce loud sounds. The Nigerian Army assures the public, especially residents in the vicinity of Owode Ajilete and its environs, that necessary safety measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of life and property throughout the entire duration of the exercise.
In light of these developments, members of the general public are kindly urged not to panic upon hearing the sound of explosions but to continue with their normal activities. The Nigerian Army emphasizes its commitment to public safety and encourages cooperation during this critical phase of the disposal operation.