Ikeja Cantonment Explained

Ikeja Cantonment is a large Nigerian Armed Forces installation in the northern part of Lagos. It is situated north of the city centre near the districts of Isolo and Onigbongo.[1]

During the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup of July 28-29, 1966, Lt. Col. M. O. Nzefili said there was a reported massacre at the camp.[2]

It became the home of 9 Brigade of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army.

In January 2002, the camp was being used to store a large quantity of "high calibre bombs", as well as other sundry explosives.[3] On the afternoon of 27 January, a fire broke out in a street market being held next to the base, which was also home to the families of soldiers.[1] At around 18:00 the fire apparently spread to the base's main munitions store, causing the 2002 Lagos armoury explosion.

References

  1. Web site: Lagos blasts leave 600 dead . 9 October 2008 . 28 January 2002 . BBC.
  2. Web site: Nowa Omoigui. WITNESSES TO HISTORY: - Lt. Col. M. O. Nzefili (rtd) – Part 2. 2020-09-07.
  3. Web site: Armoury explosion in Lagos, Nigeria . https://web.archive.org/web/20030502154304/http://www.afro.who.int/country_offices_press/2002/pr2002_nigeria.html . dead . May 2, 2003 . 9 October 2008 . 2002 . World Health Organization.