Ikeja Cantonment Bomb Blast: Remembering the victims 18 years after
Late Sunday evening on 27th January 2002, an explosion that shook the pillars of Lagos like a high magnitude earthquake occurred and sent the residents of the sprawling metropolis into uncontrollable chaos. Buildings from miles away were destroyed while the tremor was felt across the city.
The explosion which occurred at about 5.00 pm after an armoury containing “high calibre bombs” went up in flames at the Ikeja military cantonment, wreaked havoc in areas close to the cantonment and it was as if another war has begun as the bomb detonated for seven consecutive times.
Unaware of what was actually happening, a lot of people started running helter-skelter. And as they scampered for safety, they heard several other explosions, and there was an unimaginable commotion across the city. Many people were squashed dead in the stampede. Others were burned in the raging fire, while many drowned in a canal that was covered with hyacinth leaves as they tried to cross the Ajao Estate-Oke Afa link in Isolo.
The explosion claimed many lives in the area, and a memorial stands at the place where most of the victims were buried. Many families were devastated as some of them lost multiple loved ones. Parents, children, and several others were killed. Some families were completely wiped out.
Official records put the number of deaths as of 30th January 2002 at about 700, but other sources claim that at least 1,000 people lost their lives due to the blast. About 20,000 people were reportedly displaced in the most affected areas.
18 years after that tragic incident, many Nigerians are paying tribute to the victims, while some survivors give gratitude for the gift of life.
“Today marks 18 years since the Ikeja Cantonment Bomb blast in 2002. I’m extending my love to everyone who holds memories of that tragic day. So far, you’ve held it all together in the ways you could. I hope you never lose your source of strength & peace,” one survivor who almost lost her life had it not been for the help of a kind neighbour tweeted.
“I was 7 when the Ikeja cantonment bomb blast happened. Thank God for life. And may the dearly departed souls continue to rest in peace,” another one tweeted.
“18 years down the line… RIP to those who lost their lives at the Ikeja cantonment bomb blast. I am a survivor,” someone else tweeted.
Faulting the government on their response to the incident, one Twitter user said that the event showed how terrible Nigeria was with crisis management.
“18years after, can we say we are any better?” She asked.
Recounting his experience and how he lost two of his children in the explosion, one Majekodunmi told The Punch that the blood of the victims was on the government.
“Whether they like it or not, the government killed those people, because we learnt it was avoidable, and more importantly, the explosion was from the facility of a federal institution,” he said.
The Federal Government under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Lagos State government had promised to compensate the victims’ families, but so many of them allege that the government reneged on its promise and they were left to face the tragedy alone.
