Residents of Ilese in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, were thrown into panic in the early hours of Thursday when a minor explosion occurred at the Nigerian Army’s Ilese Barracks.
By Chimezie Godfrey
Residents of Ilese in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, were thrown into panic in the early hours of Thursday when a minor explosion occurred at the Nigerian Army’s Ilese Barracks.
The incident, which happened around one of the storage buildings of the 42 Engineers Brigade Counter Improvised Explosive Device Squadron, was followed by a brief fire outbreak.
Troops of the 12 Field Engineer Regiment, working with men of the Ijebu-Ode Fire Service, quickly moved in to contain the blaze before it could spread.
Army spokesperson, Lt. Col. Appolonia Anele, said no life was lost and no one sustained injuries in the incident.
“We want to assure the people of Ilese and surrounding communities that there is no cause for alarm. The situation is under control and contained within the affected building,” she said.
According to her, the fire was restricted to the building and some stored materials, while a detailed assessment is ongoing to determine the extent of material damage.
Eyewitnesses in the community said the explosion was loud enough to cause initial fear. “We heard a loud sound and people started rushing out of their houses. But we later saw soldiers and fire service trucks heading to the barracks, so we knew they were on top of it,” said a resident, Mr. Ganiyu Adeyemi.
Another resident, Mrs. Morenike Adebayo, commended the quick response of the fire service. “They came almost immediately, and we could see the fire going down. That gave us relief,” she said.
Lt. Col. Anele added that the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other agencies, has launched a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion to prevent a recurrence.
“Our priority remains the safety of our personnel and the wellbeing of neighbouring communities,” she said.