Authorities dismiss terrorist link, explosive cause in Lagos marketplace explosion

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The Lagos State Police Command has ruled out terrorism, sabotage, or the use of explosives in the incident initially reported as an explosion in the Mushin area of the state.

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The command said its investigation conclusively established that the incident was caused by the failure of a pressurised mechanical component and not by an Improvised Explosive Device or any criminal act.

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The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Abimbola Adebisi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.

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According to the statement, technical findings revealed no traces of explosive materials, detonators, initiation systems, explosive residues, or blast characteristics ordinarily associated with explosive attacks.

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The police said investigations showed that the incident resulted from the catastrophic failure of a pressurised mechanical component located outside the affected vehicle.

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The failure reportedly generated a sudden release of energy, causing the front passenger-side glass panels of the vehicle to shatter and inflicting minor injuries on the occupant.

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“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.

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“Based on these findings, the incident has been professionally classified as a Mechanical Explosion,” the statement said.

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PUNCH Online reports that the explosion occurred on Monday, June 22, at 22 Wey Street in the busy Shoe Materials Market area of Oke Mushin.n

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Initial reports triggered widespread panic as eyewitnesses and residents described a loud blast involving a parked Toyota Sienna.

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Many assumed an IED had been planted under the vehicle, leading to immediate fears of terrorism.

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In response, the State Commissioner for Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, visited the location and declared it safe and free of any IED threat.

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The command therefore assured residents that the incident was not linked to any terrorist activity, criminal use of explosives, or other security threats.

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