A military-grade grenade explosion rocked the Idi-Araba area of Mushin, Lagos State, on Thursday, claiming the life of a scavenger and leaving three others injured.
The tragic incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on Taiwo Street, sending shockwaves through the densely populated neighborhood.
According to eyewitnesses, the explosion happened when the deceased attempted to cut into one of two grenades reportedly purchased as scrap metal. The device detonated inside the scrapyard, killing the man instantly and igniting a fire that triggered panic among residents.
“This happened yesterday in my community, Idi-Araba, Mushin Lagos. They bought it as iron condemned. When they tried cutting into it, smoke started coming out and the thing exploded. It killed one person and injured two others. All of them are northerners,” a resident recounted.
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Local sources suspect the grenades may have originated from a military facility and somehow ended up in the hands of civilians.
“How did a bomb get to the hand of a scavenger, for God’s sake? The shrapnel should be preserved. I’m sure the DSS and the Army must be able to trace where it came from and apprehend the culprits,” another concerned resident posted online.
The Lagos State Police Command confirmed the incident and described the explosion as accidental. Police spokesman SP Benjamin Hundeyin stated that officers from the Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit in Ikeja were immediately dispatched to the scene after a distress call was received.
“On arrival, the team rendered the scene safe and cordoned it off. It was discovered that the explosion was a result of military-grade grenades tampered with by a scavenger who was trying to split one of the grenades,” Hundeyin said.
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The deceased was pronounced dead at the scene, while three others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The police have since collected evidence for forensic analysis, and the body has been deposited at a mortuary for autopsy.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the origin of the explosives and how they ended up in civilian hands.