From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Nigerian army said its clearance operations of remnants of unexploded ordnances from the site of the 2002 Ikeja Cantonment bomb blast has led to the recovery of 642 unexploded ordnances which have been professionally disposed of.
Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, who made the disclosure, said the unexploded ordinances were disposed of at the Nigerian Army Range in Owode Ajilete, on October 27.
Nwachukwu, in a statement said: “The clearance of remnants of unexploded ordnances from the site of the 2002 Ikeja Cantonment bomb blast commenced on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, in an exercise codenamed “Exercise Clean Sweep”. “The exercise has reached an advanced stage, resulting in the recovery of various calibres 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 have 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, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, on October 10, 2023, a final Unexploded Ordnance Disposal (UXO) 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 movement of UXOs from Ikeja Cantonment to NA Range, Owode Ajilete. There would also be large sounds accompanying the detonation exercise.
“Consequently, members of the general public, especially those resident around Owode, Ajilete and the environs, are urged to, please, not panic on hearing the sound of explosions, but go about their normal businesses, as necessary safety measures have been emplaced to ensure safety of life and property throughout the duration of the exercise.”