One injured as IED explodes at Lagos market

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Fatai Tijani, has assured residents that the Shoe Materials Market area in Mushin remains safe following an explosion suspected to have been caused by an improvised explosive device (IED).

Speaking to journalists at the scene on Monday, June 22, after security operatives completed a comprehensive sweep of the area, Tijani said police responded immediately after receiving reports of the explosion by deploying Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel to secure and investigate the scene.

“We promptly deployed our EOD team after receiving reports of an explosion. The area was cordoned off and thoroughly searched,” he said.

According to the police commissioner, preliminary investigations indicated that the device had been planted beneath a vehicle on the passenger side and detonated when the vehicle was started. “The IED was under the vehicle by the passenger side. It exploded when the vehicle was started,” Tijani stated.

One person sustained injuries in the explosion and was taken to hospital for treatment. The commissioner said the victim is in stable condition. Tijani disclosed that EOD experts conducted a detailed sweep of the area and found no additional explosive devices. He added that remnants of the suspected IED had been recovered and sent for forensic examination as investigations continue.

The police commissioner urged traders and residents in the area to remain calm and resume their normal activities, dismissing rumours suggesting widespread insecurity in Lagos as false and misleading. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state and warned criminal elements against operating in Lagos.

Also speaking on the incident, the Baale of Oke Mushin Community, Tajudeen Faronbi, said he was alerted to the situation in the early hours of Monday while observing his morning prayers. “Early this morning, around one o’clock, while I was praying, I received a call that something unusual had been seen. When I got there, I saw a vehicle and people were afraid to go near it,” he said.

Faronbi explained that he immediately contacted security authorities, including the Area Commander, who swiftly mobilised officers to the scene due to the sensitivity of the situation. According to him, about 35 police officers and additional security personnel were deployed to secure the area, prevent panic and keep residents away from the suspicious vehicle while investigations were carried out.

He said the swift response by security agencies helped calm tensions and prevent what could have escalated into panic within the community. Faronbi added that security operatives later cordoned off the area and took control of the situation while assessing the suspicious vehicle and safeguarding residents.

He noted that the ownership and identity of the vehicle involved remain unclear, with residents unable to determine who parked it or the purpose for which it had been left there.