Ifeoma Is Forever Grateful For Surviving The Lagos Armoury Explosions
On the 27th of January was a gloomy day for the people of Lagos and Nigeria as a nation as thousands of people, were injured and became homeless. Many also died.
Around 5pm that day, a sudden explosion that sounded like an earthquake shook the entire Lagos city. It was as if bombs were detonated behind the windows of residents, as it shattered windows, roofs and brought down many buildings.
Not knowing what was happening, people started running helter-skelter. There was commotion across the city, and as people were running for their lives, there was stamped which led to deaths, dead bodies littered the streets as some people ran into moving vehicles.
One location, however, that recorded the highest number of deaths was a large canal at Ajao Estate which links Oke Afa in Isolo. Unfortunately, the canal (filled with water) had been covered by water hyacinth, and as people ran into the supposed ‘bush’, they were being drowned in the water.
People stepped on themselves and many more were drowned. Children, parents and several others were killed, while some families were completely wiped off.
By the time it was peaceful again, over 1,000 persons were found to have died, several others went missing and had not been found till date, while several thousands were displaced and thousands had different kinds of injuries.
Unknown to many, the explosion was from Ikeja Military Cantonment. It was known that some high calibre bombs kept underground at the military facility were not well stored, which led to the accidental discharge of the bombs.
Ifeoma was just 4 years old at the time and was one of the few that survived the unfortunate incidence. Infact, her photograph made it to the covers of several national newspapers that year.
16 years after, Ifeoma is grateful to be alive.
The past is but a story told!! and the future has been written in GOLD. Today marks 19 years I escaped death !! It would have been too young to die But God changed my story (27/1/2002).
during the bomb blast that happened in Ikeja cantonment, when I was just 4 years old that took the lives of millions of souls including that of my kid brother, and left me the only surviving child among all those that were drowned on that day at the Canal .. so many lives were lost, properties on that day.
But here I am today thanking God for he has preserved me because he knows he has a grater plan for me,which I haven’t fulfilled on earth..
RIP to those souls that were lost including that of my brother may God console them (even tho the government fulfill Their promises. may God still touch their heart for them to remember us and fulfill their promises)January 27 2002
