One Killed, Others Injured as Explosion Rocks Lagos

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

Pandemonium yesterday erupted at the FESTAC Town area of Lagos State, when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by a yet-to-be identified person exploded, killing the Chairman, Sand Dredgers Association, Mr. Oladele Pius and left several others including a police officer with varying degrees of injuries.

The explosion caused panic as residents of the area, motorists and  passers-by took to their heels because of the deafening sound that accompanied the explosion, thereby fueling speculations that the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram group had finally infiltrated Lagos.

 The deceased, Pius was the leader of Miracle Sand Association, Festac Town, Lagos; an umbrella body for those dredging sharp sand under Festac Link Bridge while the injured policeman, simply identified as Inspector Sani was in company of the deceased when the explosion occurred around 12:30pm.

Eyewitness account said the IED was planted at the bank of the river where the deceased normally seats to relax. The  device was  said to have been  covered with stones to hide it from  detection. 

It was gathered that as soon as the deceased sat on a five coach fence erected by the river side, the explosive was detonated and immediately tore him into pieces and severely injured his police companion.

Prior to the explosion, the deceased had driven into the park in his new Pathfinder Jeep with registration number LSR 957 AZ alongside his wife. Eyewitness account said the deceased's wife was  standing a few yards away when suddenly the explosion occurred. Traumatised by gory sight of her husband's corpse, she was said to have immediately fainted and was rushed to a nearby private hospital.

THISDAY gathered that the device which was buried under the ground at the bridge linking Festac Town and Amuwo Odofin to Mile 2 area of the state, was probably set off through the aid of a remote as no one was seen around the scene before and when the explosive detonated. 

Although the scene of the explosion was immediately cordoned off by armed security personnel, the incident caused a heavy vehicular and human traffic despite crowd control measures.At the scene of the blast were the Police Anti Bomb Squad who tried to determine through their machine the probability of another buried device. The body of the deceased has since been deposited at the mortuary.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, however said it was an IED that exploded and not bomb as claimed in some quarters.

The command could not however confirm if the deceased was the actual target or was just a random victim of a vicious attack. However, dredgers at the site ruled out the insinuation that the explosive may have been planted by his rivals, desperate to take his position.

The Area Commander of Area E, Festac Division, Dan Okoro, an Assistant Superintendent  of Police, maintained that only one person was injured in the blast.

When contacted, the Spokesperson, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-west Zone, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said the device was planted and hidden, adding that it was the reason no one saw the device before it exploded. 

He said, "The explosion was caused by an IED and not a bomb. One person was killed and a policeman injured.  "Its rather unfortunate that nobody saw the person that planted the explosive. Our investigations revealed that it was buried underground and I think they used a remote to detonate it because no one was seen near the device."

Speaking to THISDAY, one of the deceased's colleague, Mr. Peter Adeola, described the late Oladele as a loving person who carried everyone along. According to him, the deceased founded the site and invited others to join him in the business while acting as a buffer between them and the government.

He said, “Our chairman was a good man who was in good term with everyone. He made sure there was no rancor at all in the association and we all reciprocated by respecting and loving him. We are his boys because he was so nice to us. I was around when he drove in his jeep and we all greeted him. 

"No sooner than he sat down there with his friend, than we hard the sound of the explosion.  By the time we rushed there, we were just picking his body parts. It was just like a movie. I still find it hard to believe.”

         The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Umaru Manko who arrived the scene 
           about an hour after the incident told journalists that the explosion should not cause
            tension, saying in it was unfortunate that a life was lost to it.

He said,“There is no cause for alarm because the magnitude of the explosion is minor, at least not like we use to have in other parts of the country. We are on ground, we have accessed the situation and we will take steps to forestall future occurrence.

“However, the Police Anti-Bomb Unit is here, investigating the object, what we found was a simple torch and battery. Lagosians can go about there normal business the situation is under control."

Also, the chairman Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Mr. Ayodele Adewale, who was equally at the scene reiterated, there is no cause for alarm as security operatives are capable of handling the situation.

He warned dredgers at the site to prepare to vacate the venue for their own safety to prevent a future reoccurence.