The Nigerian Army has affirmed its intention to carry out the conclusive disposal of unexploded ordinance in Owode-Ajilete, Ogun State.

As part of this process, there will be a transfer of unexploded ordinance (UXO) from Ikeja Cantonment to NA Range in Owode Ajilete.

Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, emphasized that the detonation exercise would be accompanied by significant noise.

In his statement, he explained, “The clearance of remnants of unexploded ordnance from the site of the 2002 Ikeja Cantonment bomb blast commenced on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, in an exercise codenamed ‘Exercise Clean Sweep.’”

Nwachukwu reported that the exercise had progressed significantly, resulting in the recovery of various calibers of unexploded ordnance. Out of these, 642 were safely disposed of on October 27, 2023, at the NA Range in Owode Ajilete.

He noted that the search and recovery phases had been completed, transitioning into the final inspection of the site, as outlined in the exercise’s plan during the inauguration press briefing and flag-off by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, on October 10, 2023.

The statement confirmed that the ultimate unexploded ordnance disposal task would take place upon the conclusion of the site inspection on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at the Nigerian Army Range in Owode Ajilete, Ogun State.

The general public, particularly residents in and around Owode Ajilete, received advice not to be alarmed by the sounds of explosions and to continue with their normal activities.

The statement assured that adequate safety measures had been implemented to safeguard lives and property throughout the exercise.