The Nigerian Army has announced its plans to conduct the final disposal of unexploded ordnance in Owode-Ajilete, Ogun State, ensuring the safety of the surrounding community.
Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed the upcoming movement of unexploded ordnance (UXO) from Ikeja Cantonment to NA Range in Owode Ajilete, emphasizing that the exercise will involve noticeable detonations.
Notably, the process of clearing the remnants of unexploded ordnance resulting from the 2002 Ikeja Cantonment bomb blast, codenamed “Exercise Clean Sweep,” commenced on October 10, 2023. An advanced stage has been reached, with the recovery of various calibres of unexploded ordnance. Out of these, 642 have been safely disposed of at the NA Range in Owode Ajilete on October 27, 2023.
The search and recovery phases of the exercise have already been completed and are now transitioning into the final inspection of the site. This phase, in line with the exercise’s plan inaugurated by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, includes a scheduled final unexploded ordnance disposal task on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at the Nigerian Army Range in Owode Ajilete, Ogun State.
The Army has reassured the public, particularly residents of Owode Ajilete and its environs, advising them not to be alarmed by the sounds of explosions during the exercise. Necessary safety measures have been implemented to guarantee the protection of lives and property throughout the duration of the disposal process.
