The Nigerian Army has disclosed that EXERCISE CLEAN SWEEP’s final Unexploded Ordnance Disposal (UXO) task will be conducted on completion of the site inspection on Saturday, 18 November 2023, at the Nigerian Army Range in Owode Ajilete, Ogun State.
A statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu put the public on notice that there would be movement of UXOs from Ikeja Cantonment to NA Range, Owode Ajilete which would also be accompanied by large sounds in the detonation exercise.
Recalled that the clearance of remnants of unexploded ordnances from the site of the 2002 Ikeja Cantonment Bomb Blast commenced on Tuesday.10 October 2023 in an Exercise code-named “EXERCISE CLEAN SWEEP”.
The Exercise, according to the Army has reached an advanced stage resulting in the recovery of various calibres of unexploded ordnances, out of which 642 of them were professionally disposed on 27 October 2023 at the NA Range in Owode Ajilete.
The search and recovery phase of the exercise have therefore been completed and has now dovetailed into the final inspection of the site, which has earnestly commenced.
This is in line with the Exercise plan, as highlighted during the Inauguration Press briefing and Flag Off by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja on 10 October 2023.
The Nigerian Army therefore urge members of the general public, especially those resident around Owode, Ajilete and the environs not to panic on hearing the sound of explosions, but go about their normal businesses, as necessary safety measures have been put in place to ensure safety of life and property throughout the duration of the exercise.
