Ikeja Cantonment

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. "Lagos blasts leave 600 dead". BBC. 28 January 2002. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  2. Nowa Omoigui. "WITNESSES TO HISTORY: - Lt. Col. M. O. Nzefili (rtd) – Part 2". Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  3. "Armoury explosion in Lago, Nigeria". World Health Organization. 2002. Retrieved 9 October 2008.

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