A suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded beneath a parked vehicle in the Oke Mushin area of Lagos on Tuesday morning, leaving the vehicle owner with minor injuries and causing panic among residents.
The blast occurred at about 6 a.m. on Wey Street, Oke Mushin, when the owner of a gold Toyota Sienna, registered as AAA11FX, attempted to start the vehicle after it had been parked overnight.
Security agencies, including bomb disposal experts and senior police officers, quickly responded to the scene, cordoning off the area and launching an investigation into the incident.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, confirmed that preliminary investigations showed the explosive device had been planted beneath the vehicle.
According to the police commissioner, the explosion was caused by an IED, while the vehicle owner sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Fatai said Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operatives conducted a thorough sweep of the area and found no additional explosive devices. He added that remnants of the device had been recovered for forensic examination and that the area had been declared safe.
The commissioner urged residents to remain calm and continue their daily activities, assuring them that security agencies were maintaining heightened vigilance across the state.
An inspection of the scene revealed extensive damage to the vehicle, particularly on the passenger side, with shattered glass, burn marks and traces of explosive residue scattered around the area.
The Baale of Oke Mushin, Tajudeen Lasisi Farounbi, said he alerted security agencies immediately after receiving a distress call. He noted that the vehicle had been parked in the area regularly for several months but said he knew little about its owner.
Security agencies have commenced a full-scale investigation to identify those responsible, determine the motive behind the attack and establish whether the incident was targeted or linked to a wider security threat. Residents have been advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious objects or activities to authorities.