Police: Explosion at Lagos Market Caused by Mechanical Failure, not IED

The Lagos state police command says the explosion at the shoe materials market in the Mushin area of Lagos was not caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), terrorist activity, sabotage, or any form of criminal use of explosives.

One person was injured on Monday morning when a vehicle exploded at the shoe materials market in the Mushin area of Lagos.

Speaking during a visit to the scene, Fatai Tijani, commissioner of police Lagos, said the command received reports of the explosion and immediately deployed explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) operatives to the area.

According to NAN Tijani said preliminary findings revealed that the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted under a vehicle.

He said the device was beneath the passenger side of the vehicle and detonated when the engine was started, adding that one person sustained injuries and is currently in stable condition at the hospital.

However, Abimbola Adebisi, spokesperson for the command, said in a statement on Thursday that subsequent investigations found no evidence of IED.

“The Command is pleased to inform the good people of Lagos State and Nigerians at large that the investigation has conclusively established that the incident was not caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), terrorist activity, sabotage, or any form of criminal use of explosives,” the statement reads.

“Technical findings revealed no traces of explosive materials, detonators, initiation systems, explosive residues, or blast characteristics ordinarily associated with explosive attacks.

“Investigation established that the incident resulted from the catastrophic failure of a pressurized mechanical component outside the vehicle.

“This failure generated a sudden release of energy which caused the shattering of the vehicle’s front passenger side glass panels and resulted in minor injuries to the occupant.”

Adebisi added that, based on these findings, the incident has been professionally classified as a mechanical explosion.