Police dismiss terrorism fears for Mushin explosion and blame mechanical failure

The Lagos State Police Command has ruled out terrorism, sabotage and use of explosive devices in the incident that sparked panic in the Mushin area of ​​Lagos, saying investigations revealed that the explosion was caused by the failure of a pressurized mechanical component.

The command said forensic and technical findings demonstrated that the incident, initially suspected to be an explosion involving an improvised explosive device, was purely mechanical in nature and had no connection to any criminal activity.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed this in a statement on Thursday, following the conclusion of investigations into the incident at the popular shoe materials market in Wey Street, Oke Mushin.

According to police, investigators found no evidence of explosive materials, detonators, trigger systems or explosion patterns typically associated with terrorist attacks or bomb explosions.

The statement noted that the accident was caused by the catastrophic failure of a pressurized mechanical component located on the exterior of a parked vehicle.

The failure, police said, led to a sudden release of energy that shattered the glass panels on the front passenger side of the stricken Toyota Sienna and left its occupant with minor injuries.

“The investigation has determined that the crash was caused by the catastrophic failure of a pressurized mechanical component external to the vehicle. This failure generated a sudden release of energy which caused the front passenger side glass panels of the vehicle to shatter, causing minor injuries to the occupants.

“Based on these findings, the incident has been professionally classified as a mechanical explosion,” the statement read.

The development comes days after residents and traders of the bustling market area were thrown into panic following a loud vehicle blast on Monday, June 22.

The accident had raised fears of a possible attack, according to eyewitnesses an explosive device may have been placed under the vehicle.

The speculation prompted an immediate security response, with officers cordoning off the area while experts began investigations.

Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, visited the scene and assured residents that there was no security threat.

Reiterating this position on Thursday, the command called on citizens to remain calm, stressing that the incident was neither an act of terrorism nor linked to any criminal use of explosives.

Police also assured Lagos residents that the state remains safe and that there is no indication of a wider security threat arising from the incident.

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