This day makes it 25 years since the Ikeja Cantonment bomb blast killed many people and also destroyed property in Lagos.

The incident happened on Sunday, January 27, 2002, after explosives stored at a military barracks detonated themselves and created panic in the city.

Multiple reports pegged the casualty to be at least 1,100 people and the displaced at over 20,000, while thousands were left injured.

Most of the deaths were due to drowning in a stretch of canal by those who were fleeing the nucleus of the explosion.

According to a World Health Organization report, the Federal Government, under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, immediately established an Explosion Disaster Relief Fund and a Committee headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to receive and administer the fund. The government donated N200,000,000 to provide relief to survivors and beckoned individuals also to contribute financial support.

The Lagos State Government also set up a Lagos State Government Explosion Relief Fund and opened a dedicated account to receive cash donations.

The state government established two rehabilitation camps—one for military personnel and the other for civilians. An information centre was also established at Ikeja cantonment for those who wished to get information on missing members of families or make other related enquiries.

Several individuals, establishments and Non-Governmental Organizations also provided relief materials.

The deceased victims of the incident were given a mass burial ceremony but their corpses were placed in individual caskets covered with the Nigerian national flag.