The Lagos State Police Command has ruled out terrorism, sabotage, or the use of explosives in the incident initially reported as an explosion in the Mushin area of the state.
The command said its investigation conclusively established that the incident was caused by the failure of a pressurised mechanical component and not by an Improvised Explosive Device or any criminal act.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Abimbola Adebisi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to the statement, technical findings revealed no traces of explosive materials, detonators, initiation systems, explosive residues, or blast characteristics ordinarily associated with explosive attacks.
The police said investigations showed that the incident resulted from the catastrophic failure of a pressurised mechanical component located outside the affected vehicle.
The failure reportedly generated a sudden release of energy, causing the front passenger-side glass panels of the vehicle to shatter and inflicting minor injuries on the occupant.
“Investigation established that the incident resulted from the catastrophic failure of a pressurized mechanical component outside the vehicle. This failure generated a sudden release of energy which caused the shattering of the vehicle’s front passenger side glass panels and resulted in minor injuries to the occupant.
“Based on these findings, the incident has been professionally classified as a Mechanical Explosion,” the statement said.
PUNCH Online reports that the explosion occurred on Monday, June 22, at 22 Wey Street in the busy Shoe Materials Market area of Oke Mushin.
Initial reports triggered widespread panic as eyewitnesses and residents described a loud blast involving a parked Toyota Sienna.
Many assumed an IED had been planted under the vehicle, leading to immediate fears of terrorism.
In response, the State Commissioner for Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, visited the location and declared it safe and free of any IED threat.
The command therefore assured residents that the incident was not linked to any terrorist activity, criminal use of explosives, or other security threats.
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