The Nigerian Army shared that the final disposal task for unexploded ordnances (UXO) as part of EXERCISE CLEAN SWEEP will be carried out after the completion of the site inspection on Saturday, 18 November 2023, at the Nigerian Army Range in Owode Ajilete, Ogun State.
Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, issued a statement notifying the public about the movement of UXOs from Ikeja Cantonment to NA Range, Owode Ajilete, accompanied by substantial detonation sounds during the exercise.
The clearance of remnants of unexploded ordnances from the site of the 2002 Ikeja Cantonment Bomb Blast began on Tuesday, 10 October 2023, in an Exercise code-named “EXERCISE CLEAN SWEEP”.
As part of the Exercise, the Army has made significant progress in recovering various calibres of unexploded ordnances, with 642 of them safely disposed of on 27 October 2023 at the NA Range in Owode Ajilete.
The search and recovery phase of the exercise has been successfully completed, transitioning into the final inspection of the site, which has already commenced.
This aligns with the exercise plan as outlined during the Inauguration Press briefing and Flag Off by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja on 10 October 2023.
The Nigerian Army urges members of the public, especially those residing around Owode, Ajilete, and the surrounding areas, not to be alarmed by the detonation sounds. They are advised to continue with their daily activities since necessary safety measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of life and property throughout the exercise.