Discovery of 93 unexploded bombs in Lagos military cantonment during cleanup operation

During the ongoing ‘Exercise Clean Sweep’ initiated on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, a total of 93 unexploded ordnance (bombs) have been discovered at the Ikeja Military Cantonment in Lagos, Nigeria. This cleanup operation aims to decontaminate the area that served as the epicenter of a significant bomb blast in 2002.

The Nigeria Army Engineers, led by Colonel Abdulrazaq Kazeem, who serves as the Director at the Directorate of Explosives Search and Disposal and the Coordinator of ‘Exercise Clean Sweep,’  provided this update on the operation’s progress.

These unexploded bombs were found in various calibers and descriptions, highlighting the hazardous nature of the cleanup effort. Colonel Kazeem stated, “So far, a total of 93 unexploded ordnance have been recovered from the site.”

To ensure safety during the cleanup, unexploded ordnance will be transported to a designated range when the maximum explosive limit within the holding area is reached. Colonel Kazeem emphasized, “If we reach the explosive limits today, I will move to the range today. We would not exceed a kilogram above the explosive limits because it is measured in kilograms. We wouldn’t cross that line. At 93, we have not yet reached the limits.”

This discovery underscores the critical nature of ‘Exercise Clean Sweep’ as it not only decontaminates the area but also ensures the safe disposal of unexploded ordnance, minimizing the risk to the community and the environment.