Lagos State Police Commissioner Mr Fatai Tijani has told residents that the Shoe Materials Market in Mushin is safe after a bomb explosion—believed to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED)—caused a brief panic.
Tijani spoke to journalists at the scene on Monday after security teams finished a thorough sweep. According to him, the police received reports of an explosion and sent in Explosive Ordnance Disposal officers to secure the area. “We promptly deployed our EOD team after receiving reports of an explosion. The area was cordoned off and thoroughly searched,” he said.
Preliminary findings show the blast came from an IED planted under a vehicle. Tijani said the device was under the passenger side and went off when the engine was started. “The IED was under the vehicle by the passenger side. It exploded when the vehicle was started,” he stated.
One person was injured and taken to hospital and is in stable condition. After the detailed sweep, EOD experts found no other explosive devices. Remnants of the device were recovered and sent for forensic examination as the probe continues.
Tijani urged traders and residents to stay calm, resume normal activities, and ignore rumours of widespread insecurity, calling such claims false and misleading. He also warned criminals to stay away and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
Baale of Oke Mushin, Mr Tajudeen Faronbi, said the incident happened early Monday while he was praying. “Early this morning, around one o’clock, 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,” he said. He contacted the Area Commander; about 35 officers and additional backup secured the scene, calmed tensions and checked the vehicle. The car’s ownership and purpose remain unclear. (NAN)
