Panic as explosion rocks Lagos Market,1 injured

By Christopher Oji

There was pandemonium yesterday at Mushin Market in Lagos after an explosion suspected to have been caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) occurred in a vehicle.

Traders, residents and passers-by scampered for safety, resulting in heavy human and vehicular congestion in the already busy commercial area.

The Lagos State Police Command confirmed the explosion, saying one person sustained injuries in the incident.

The blast occurred at the Shoe Materials Market in Mushin, causing panic among traders and residents before security operatives moved in to secure the area.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Fatai Tijani, confirmed the incident while speaking with journalists at the scene.

He said police operatives, including Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) experts, were immediately deployed after reports of the explosion were received.

According to him, the area was swiftly cordoned off and thoroughly searched to eliminate any further threat to residents and traders.

Tijani explained that preliminary investigations indicated that the explosive device had been placed under the passenger seat of a vehicle parked in the area.

He added that the device detonated when the vehicle was started, resulting in the explosion that injured one person.

The police commissioner said the victim was promptly taken to a hospital, where he is receiving treatment and is reported to be in stable condition.

Following the incident, the EOD team conducted a comprehensive sweep of the market and its surroundings.

Police authorities confirmed that no additional explosive devices were discovered during the operation.

They assured residents that the situation had been brought under control and that there was no further threat to public safety.

Tijani urged residents and traders in Mushin to remain calm and go about their lawful activities without fear.

He further assured the public that the command was fully on top of the situation and that investigations were ongoing to determine the source and motive behind the explosion.