In a significant development, 93 unexploded ordnances (UXOs) have been successfully recovered at the Ikeja Military Cantonment in Lagos as part of the ‘Exercise Clean Sweep.’ This operation, initiated on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, aims to decontaminate the epicenter of the 2002 bomb blast that occurred at the cantonment.
The Nigerian Army’s Directorate of Explosives Search and Disposal, led by Colonel Abdulrazaq Kazeem, the Coordinator of ‘Exercise Clean Sweep,’ made this revelation during his maiden update on the ongoing exercise.
According to Colonel Kazeem, the recovered unexploded bombs come in various calibers and descriptions, raising concerns about the safety and security of the cantonment’s inhabitants and the surrounding environment. Despite previous clearance and disposal efforts in the area, reports of unexploded ordnance remnants continued to surface.
Speaking about the operation’s progress, Colonel Kazeem said, “So far, a total of 93 unexploded ordnance have been recovered from the site. The moment we reach maximum limits of explosives within our holding area, such ordinances will be moved to the range. If we get to 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 kilogram. We wouldn’t cross that line. At 93, we have not yet reached the limits.”
Emphasizing the importance of safety, Lieutenant Colonel Oluseyi Oladapo Bamikole, the Safety Officer, stated that comprehensive measures had been implemented to safeguard personnel involved in the operation. These measures include the provision of appropriate equipment, clearly marked demarcations, and training for personnel to identify unexploded ordnance before their recovery from the site.
The ‘Exercise Clean Sweep’ continues to be a critical endeavor to eliminate the potential threats posed by unexploded ordnance, ensuring the safety and security of the cantonment and its residents.
