JUST IN: One Injured As Bomb Explosion Rocks Lagos Market

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai

JUST IN: One Injured As Bomb Explosion Rocks Lagos Market

Explosive device planted under vehicle in Mushin commercial area detonates on ignition, triggering security response as police declare area safe.

A bomb explosion suspected to have been caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) rocked the Shoe Materials Market in Mushin, Lagos, in the early hours of Monday, June 22, 2026, triggering brief panic among residents and traders. One person sustained injuries in the blast and was taken to a nearby hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment and are in a stable condition. Police Commissioner Fatai Tijani confirmed the incident and assured the public that the situation is under control. The incident occurred at 22, Wey Street in Oke Mushin, where a gold Toyota Sienna with registration number Lagos AAA11FX was parked overnight by a resident who had moved into the area barely three months ago. According to residents, the owner of the vehicle went to start the engine before 6 a.m., likely to leave for work, when the bomb detonated on the passenger side and injured him. The explosion blew out the passenger side of the vehicle, which was later found covered with sheets of transparent polythene taped over the frames, while the body was scorched and smeared with gunpowder. Broken glass still littered the ground beneath the doors.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Fatai Tijani, addressed journalists at the scene of the incident on Monday after security operatives conducted a comprehensive sweep of the area. He said the police received information about an explosion and immediately deployed Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operatives to cordon off and secure the location. “We promptly deployed our EOD team after receiving reports of an explosion. The area was cordoned off and thoroughly searched,” Tijani stated.

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Preliminary findings indicated that the explosion was caused by an Improvised Explosive Device planted under a vehicle parked within the commercial area. The device was placed beneath the passenger side and detonated when the vehicle’s engine was started. “The IED was under the vehicle by the passenger side. It exploded when the vehicle was started,” Tijani explained. After a detailed sweep by EOD experts, no additional explosive devices were discovered in the area. Remnants of the explosive device have been recovered and taken for forensic examination as investigations continue. The victim’s account is being reviewed as part of ongoing investigations, and the police are working to determine who planted the device and why.

The Baale of Oke Mushin Community, Mr. Tajudeen Faronbi, told journalists that the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday while he was observing his morning prayers. “Early this morning, around one o’clock, while I was praying, I received a call that something unusual had been seen. When I got there, I saw a vehicle and people were afraid to go near it,” Faronbi said. He immediately contacted the Area Commander and other security authorities, who quickly mobilised officers to the scene. About 35 police operatives were deployed to secure the area, with additional backup units drafted in to ensure order and prevent residents from approaching the scene. Faronbi said the swift response helped to calm tensions and prevent what could have escalated into panic within the community.

Tijani urged residents, traders, and other members of the public to remain calm and resume normal activities, stressing that the situation had been brought under control. He also cautioned against rumours suggesting widespread insecurity in Lagos, describing such claims as false and misleading. The police boss reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state and warned criminal elements to stay away from Lagos. The identity and ownership of the vehicle involved in the explosion remain unclear, as residents were unable to confirm who parked it or its purpose. The Baale noted that he had no prior information about the vehicle’s owner, only that the car had been parked in the area for two to three months.