The Lagos State Police Command has assured residents and traders that there is no cause for alarm following a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion at the Shoe Materials Market in the Mushin area of the state.
The assurance came after security operatives conducted a comprehensive sweep of the area following the incident, which injured one person and briefly caused panic among traders and residents.
Addressing journalists at the scene on Monday, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Fatai Tijani, said the command responded swiftly after receiving reports of an explosion within the commercial district.
According to him, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) experts were immediately deployed to secure the area, evacuate bystanders and conduct a thorough search for possible threats.
“We promptly deployed our EOD team after receiving reports of an explosion. The area was cordoned off and thoroughly searched,” the commissioner said.
Preliminary investigations, he disclosed, indicate that the blast was caused by an Improvised Explosive Device concealed beneath a vehicle parked within the market vicinity.
“The IED was placed beneath the passenger side of the vehicle and detonated when the engine was started,” Tijani stated.
He said one person sustained injuries during the explosion and was rushed to a medical facility for treatment, adding that the victim was responding well and remained in stable condition.
The police commissioner further disclosed that EOD specialists carried out an extensive sweep of the area and found no additional explosive devices.
He therefore urged traders, business owners and residents to remain calm and continue their normal activities without fear.
According to him, fragments and other remnants of the explosive device have been recovered and forwarded for forensic examination as part of efforts to determine the source of the device and identify those responsible.
Tijani also cautioned against the spread of misinformation and unverified reports capable of causing unnecessary panic among residents.
He dismissed rumours suggesting a wider security threat in the state, describing such claims as false and misleading.
The commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of the Lagos State Police Command to protecting lives and property, assuring residents that all necessary measures were being taken to prevent similar incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice.
He also warned criminal elements to steer clear of Lagos, stressing that the command would continue to deploy intelligence and operational resources to ensure the safety and security of the state.
