Panic briefly gripped traders and residents at the Shoe Materials Market in Mushin, Lagos, after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) concealed beneath a vehicle detonated, leaving one person injured.
The incident occurred on Monday and triggered an immediate security response, with police and bomb disposal experts rushing to the scene to prevent further danger.
Addressing journalists after a comprehensive security sweep of the area, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, assured residents that the situation had been brought under control and that there was no cause for alarm.
According to the police chief, operatives of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit were swiftly deployed after reports of the explosion reached the command.
“We promptly deployed our EOD team after receiving reports of an explosion. The area was cordoned off and thoroughly searched,” Tijani said.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the blast was caused by an Improvised Explosive Device planted beneath the passenger side of a vehicle.
“The IED was under the vehicle by the passenger side. It exploded when the vehicle was started,” the commissioner explained.
The explosion left one person injured and the victim was immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment. Police said the injured person is in a stable condition.
Following an extensive search of the commercial hub, security experts confirmed that no additional explosive devices were found in the area.
The commissioner disclosed that fragments of the explosive device had been recovered and taken away for forensic analysis as investigators work to determine those behind the attack and their motive.
He urged traders and residents to remain calm and continue their normal activities, dismissing rumours suggesting widespread insecurity in Lagos as false and misleading.
The incident has nevertheless raised concerns among residents, as authorities intensify investigations into what appears to be a targeted explosive attack in one of Lagos’ busiest commercial districts.
