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Residents and traders in the Mushin area of Lagos were thrown into temporary panic on Monday after a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated at the Shoe Materials Market, prompting a swift security response.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, assured the public that the situation had been brought under control and that there was no ongoing threat to residents or businesses in the area.
Speaking to journalists at the scene after a comprehensive security operation, the police commissioner said the command received reports of an explosion and immediately deployed Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) experts to secure the location and assess the situation.
According to Tijani, the area was promptly cordoned off while bomb disposal specialists conducted a detailed search to determine the cause of the blast and eliminate any further risks.
Preliminary investigations, he disclosed, indicated that the explosion was caused by an Improvised Explosive Device concealed beneath a vehicle parked within the commercial area.
The commissioner explained that the device had been placed under the passenger side of the vehicle and detonated when the engine was started, triggering the explosion that alarmed traders and residents.
He confirmed that one person sustained injuries during the incident and was immediately taken to a hospital for medical attention. The victim, he said, is responding to treatment and remains in stable condition.
Tijani noted that after an extensive sweep of the area by EOD operatives, no additional explosive devices or suspicious objects were discovered, easing concerns about a broader security threat.
He urged residents and business owners to remain calm and continue their normal activities, stressing that security agencies had secured the environment and were maintaining close surveillance of the area.
The police chief also disclosed that fragments and remnants of the explosive device had been recovered and sent for forensic analysis to aid ongoing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the blast.
He warned against the spread of misinformation and rumours suggesting widespread insecurity in Lagos, describing such claims as misleading and capable of causing unnecessary fear among members of the public.
Reaffirming the commitment of the Lagos State Police Command to public safety, Tijani said law enforcement agencies would continue to work diligently to protect lives and property across the state.
Also speaking on the incident, the Baale of Oke Mushin Community, Tajudeen Faronbi, said he was alerted to the suspicious situation in the early hours of Monday while observing his morning prayers.
According to the community leader, he received a distress call around 1 a.m. informing him that a suspicious vehicle had been sighted, prompting immediate concern among residents who were afraid to approach it.
Faronbi said he quickly contacted security authorities, including the Area Commander, leading to the rapid deployment of police officers and other security personnel to the scene.
He disclosed that about 35 security operatives were mobilised to secure the area, while additional reinforcement teams were drafted in to prevent residents from getting close to the vehicle and to maintain public order.
The traditional leader commended the swift response of security agencies, noting that their prompt intervention helped to calm fears and prevented what could have escalated into widespread panic within the community.
He added that security operatives subsequently took full control of the area, cordoning it off while experts examined the suspicious vehicle and carried out safety procedures.
Faronbi further revealed that the identity of the vehicle\'s owner remains unknown, as residents were unable to determine who parked it in the area or the circumstances surrounding its presence before the explosion.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, with security agencies expected to rely on forensic findings and other intelligence to determine those responsible and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
