Segun Atanda/
On an ordinary Thursday morning, Taiwo Street in Idi-Araba, Mushin, was alive with the usual sounds of hustle—vendors calling out their wares, children laughing on their way to school, and metal clanging in the corner where a scrap dealer worked quietly.
But by noon, that clang turned into a deafening boom.
In an instant, life was lost, homes were shaken, and a community was thrust into fear and confusion. A metal object—seemingly harmless in the scrap heap—was, in fact, a live military-grade grenade.
One Life Lost, Three Changed Forever
The explosion killed the scrap dealer instantly. Three others, unfortunate to be nearby, were injured and are now in hospital, fighting to recover not just physically, but emotionally from a trauma they never saw coming.
“He was just doing his job,” said a neighbour, shaking his head in disbelief. “We all thought it was just scrap. Who would imagine a grenade here in Mushin?”
The victim, whose name has yet to be officially released, was known for buying up discarded metal parts, cutting them down, and reselling them for a living. It’s a job that some people in the informal sector rely on to feed their families. But this time, one piece of metal held a deadly secret.
Rapid Response, Ongoing Investigation
The Lagos State Police Command confirmed that their Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit arrived swiftly at the scene. Working alongside the Nigerian Army’s Counter-IED experts, they recovered not just the remains of the detonated grenade, but also two more live ones—ticking time bombs that, fortunately, never went off.
The area has since been declared safe, but the questions are far from answered.
Where Did the Grenades Come From?
The big mystery now lies in the origin of the explosives. How did they end up in civilian hands—unmarked, unnoticed, and deadly? Police have launched a full investigation in collaboration with military authorities to trace the source and determine whether this was a one-off accident or part of a disturbing trend.
Commissioner of Police Olohundare Jimoh has assured the public that no stone will be left unturned.
According to Lagos State police spokesman, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin necessary steps were being taken to prevent a recurrence.
A Wake-Up Call for Scavengers and Scrap Dealers
This tragedy has exposed a dangerous blind spot in Lagos’ informal economy. With thousands of scrap collectors handling unidentifiable materials daily, the risk of another tragedy looms large.
The police have now issued a public warning, urging anyone involved in scrap metal trading or scavenging to exercise extreme caution and report any suspicious or unidentified objects.
Life on Taiwo Street may slowly return to normal, but the memory of the explosion—and the life it claimed—will linger like the echo of that sudden boom.
As police continue to probe the mystery behind the hidden grenade, one thing remains painfully clear: even in times of peace, danger can hide in the most unexpected places.
