The thunderous blast that rocked a shop at No. 22 Immaseun Street in the Mushin area of Lagos State on Sunday was not a terror attack but a violent chemical reaction triggered by substances improperly stored inside a parked vehicle near a shop.
This was revealed by reliable sources based on a report published by Gistlife, an online publication, on Wednesday.
It would be recalled that on Sunday morning, there was a report of a thunderous blast that rocked Immaseun Street, off Wey Street in Mushin, which sent panicked residents and traders scrambling for safety.
For several intense minutes, the community was gripped by fear, with many assuming that the explosion was a bomb attack as a result of the intensity of the noise. The chaos centered on a shop at No. 22 Immaseun Street, a facility known for stocking chemicals and shoe accessories.
But in a report published by Gistlife titled “Explosion Scare: How Chemical Reaction Disrupted Sunday Peace in Mushin,” security experts revealed that the explosion was caused by a violent chemical reaction triggered by substances improperly stored inside a parked vehicle near the shop.
The report reads in part: “As the sound echoed across the neighborhood, the initial confusion quickly spiraled into a scene of mass alarm, with people abandoning their wares and fleeing toward perceived safety. However, the atmosphere began to shift as security operatives arrived, quickly cordoning off the area to conduct a swift inspection.
“Their findings brought immediate relief: the incident was not a terror attack but a violent chemical reaction triggered by substances improperly stored inside a parked vehicle near the shop. The reaction was powerful enough to damage a stationary Toyota Sienna bus with registration number AAA 11 FX, though the shop building itself escaped with only minor structural damage.
“A security source at the scene moved to douse the growing tension, assuring the public that the situation was firmly under control. “If it was a bomb blast, do you think the area would be this peaceful right now? This was a chemical reaction in the car, not an attack,” the official noted.
“Remarkably, despite the intensity of the blast, no lives were lost, and there were no reported injuries. The shop owner, Mr. Obinna Okeke, has been taken into police custody for routine questioning as authorities work to identify the specific chemicals that caused the hazard.”
It stressed further that “the event has once again spotlighted the lingering danger of storing flammable and volatile materials in residential and commercial hubs. Despite sustained advocacy from the Lagos State Government regarding the dangers of improper chemical handling, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks posed by negligence in densely populated areas.
“As forensic experts continue their analysis to prevent a recurrence, the police have urged residents to remain calm and return to their normal Sunday activities, while reiterating the necessity of strict compliance with industrial safety guidelines.”
