An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) hidden beneath a vehicle exploded at the Shoe Materials Market in Mushin, Lagos State, injuring one person and triggering panic among traders and residents before security operatives secured the area.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr Fatai Tijani, disclosed this on Monday while addressing journalists at the scene of the incident, assuring residents that the area remained safe after a comprehensive sweep by security operatives.
According to CP Tijani, the police received reports of an explosion and immediately deployed Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operatives to cordon off and secure the area.
âWe promptly deployed our EOD team after receiving reports of an explosion. The area was cordoned off and thoroughly searched,â he said.
The police commissioner said preliminary investigations showed that the blast was caused by an IED planted beneath a vehicle.
He explained that the device had been placed under the passenger side of the vehicle and detonated when the engine was started.
âThe IED was under the vehicle by the passenger side. It exploded when the vehicle was started,â Tijani stated.
According to him, one person sustained injuries in the explosion and was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment.
He added that the victim was in a stable condition.
CP Tijani further disclosed that EOD experts carried out a detailed sweep of the market and surrounding area after the blast and confirmed that no additional explosive devices were found.
The Police Commissioner urged traders, residents and business owners in the affected commercial hub to remain calm and continue their normal activities.
He also revealed that remnants of the explosive device had been recovered and taken for forensic examination as investigations continued into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
CP Tijani urged residents to disregard rumours suggesting widespread insecurity in Lagos, describing such reports as false and misleading.
The police boss reaffirmed the commandâs commitment to protecting lives and property across the state and warned criminal elements to stay away from Lagos.
Also speaking with journalists, the Baale of Oke Mushin Community, Mr Tajudeen Faronbi, said the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday while he was observing his morning prayers.
âEarly this morning, around one oâclock, while I was praying, I received a call that something unusual had been seen. When I got there, I saw a vehicle, and people were afraid to go near it,â he said.
Faronbi explained that because of the sensitive nature of the situation, he immediately contacted the Area Commander and other security authorities, who swiftly mobilised personnel to the scene.
According to him, dozens of police officers and about 35 operatives were deployed to secure the area, while additional backup units were drafted to maintain order and prevent residents from approaching the scene.
He said the swift intervention of security agencies helped to calm tensions and prevent what could have escalated into widespread panic within the community.
Faronbi added that security operatives later cordoned off the area, took control of the situation and moved in to assess the suspicious vehicle while ensuring the safety of residents.
The traditional leader noted that the identity and ownership of the vehicle remained unclear, as residents could not determine who parked it at the location or the purpose for which it had been left there.
