By Philip Nwosu
The Nigerian Army said it will commence the disposal of unexploded bombs recovered from the clearance site inside Ikeja Military Cantonment, today, at the force’s shooting range inside Ajilete, in the Owode area of Ogun State.
The Force, in a statement, said the clearance of remnants of unexploded ordnances from the site of the 2002 Ikeja Cantonment bomb blast commenced on Tuesday, in an Exercise codenamed, “Exercise Clean Sweep”.
The Army Spokesman, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement, said the detonation of the explosives, which will commence today, from 10am to 4pm, would produce a loud bang from far and near during the exercise.
The army urged the public, particularly residents of Owode, Ajilete and the environs, not to panic, but go about their normal and legitimate businesses, as the sound of the explosion would not raise any security concern.
Specifically the army advised farmers and farm owners within and around the perimeters of the Nigerian Army Shooting Range, Ajilete, Owode Ogun State, to steer clear during the period of the exercise, assuring that the necessary cautionary measures have been emplaced to guarantee safety of life and property throughout the duration of the exercise.
The army spokesman said the Exercise Clean Sweep has reached an advanced stage, resulting in the recovery of various calibres of unexploded ordnances, which would have to be professionally and safely disposed.
He said in line with the exercise plan, earlier highlighted during the inauguration press briefing and flag off by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, on October 10, 2023, the Nigerian Army would be conducting disposal of recovered unexploded ordnances at the Nigerian Army Range in Owode, Ajilete, Ogun State.