One Injured as Bomb Explodes Beneath Vehicle in Lagos Market
One person was injured on Monday after a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted beneath a vehicle detonated at the Shoe Materials Market in the Mushin area of Lagos State.
The incident, which caused panic among traders and residents, prompted an immediate response from security agencies, with police authorities assuring the public that the area remains safe.
Speaking to journalists at the scene, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, said the command swiftly deployed Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operatives after receiving reports of the explosion.
According to him, security personnel cordoned off the area and conducted a thorough search to prevent any further threat.
“We promptly deployed our EOD team after receiving reports of an explosion. The area was secured and comprehensively searched,” Tijani said.
Preliminary investigations, he disclosed, revealed that the blast was caused by an IED concealed beneath the passenger side of a vehicle.
“The device was planted under the vehicle on the passenger side and detonated when the engine was started,” the police commissioner explained.
Tijani confirmed that one person sustained injuries in the explosion and was rushed to a hospital for treatment. He added that the victim was in stable condition.
The commissioner further stated that EOD experts conducted a detailed sweep of the area and found no additional explosive devices.
He urged residents, traders, and business owners in the market to remain calm and continue their normal activities, assuring them that the situation had been brought under control.
According to him, remnants of the explosive device have been recovered and taken for forensic analysis as investigations continue to determine those responsible for the attack.
Tijani also dismissed rumours suggesting widespread insecurity in Lagos, describing such claims as false and misleading.
“The command remains committed to safeguarding lives and property across the state. Criminal elements should know that Lagos is not a safe haven for unlawful activities,” he said.
Also speaking, the Baale of Oke Mushin Community, Tajudeen Faronbi, said he received information about a suspicious situation in the early hours of Monday while observing his morning prayers.
“Early this morning, around 1 a.m., while I was praying, I received a call that something unusual had been noticed. When I arrived at the scene, I saw a vehicle and people were afraid to go near it,” he recounted.
Faronbi said he immediately alerted security agencies, including the Area Commander, who promptly mobilised officers to the scene.
He noted that dozens of police officers and about 35 security operatives were deployed to secure the area, while additional personnel were drafted in to maintain order and keep residents away from the suspected danger zone.
According to him, the swift intervention by security operatives helped prevent panic and ensured the safety of residents and traders.
He added that authorities later cordoned off the area and took control of the situation while assessing the suspicious vehicle.
Faronbi, however, said the identity and ownership of the vehicle remained unknown, as residents could not determine who parked it or the purpose for which it was brought to the area.
Police authorities have since launched a full investigation into the incident.
Source: Punch