Ikeja bomb blast: 22 years after

Come with me as I take you down memory lane. On January 27, 2002, around 4:00 pm, a loud bang emanated from the Ikeja Military Cantonment, following multiple explosions of bombs and military hardware, causing a “tremor and a quake” in Ikeja and reverberating in Ishodi, Isolo, Mushin, and other parts of the metropolis.

The blast resulted in balls of fire, smoke, and gaseous substances escaping, damaging properties, causing injuries, and emitting pollution into the atmosphere.

The pandemonium that ensued led to hundreds of casualties and extensive property damage, with houses being torched and destroyed.

Many residents were displaced, and survivors grappled with traumatic experiences.

Initial reactions to the incident varied from rumors of war or coups to fears of natural disasters like earthquakes or landslides.

The event left a lasting impact on the affected individuals and the community.

The deadly explosions in Ibadan that occurred on the night of January 18, 2024, in the Bodija axis of Ibadan, which left about five people dead and 77 people injured, bring back memories of the Ikeja bomb blast with the mental trauma of deaths of scores of residents, destruction of properties, and displacement of persons.

The disaster led to a stampede that claimed many lives and others still missing till today.

As people fled the flames, many drowned at Oke Afa canal and were buried with a cenotaph to commemorate the tragic incident.

The explosions are believed to have claimed the lives of at least 1,100 people and displaced over 20,000, with many thousands injured or homeless.