NIGERIAN AMMO DUMP PHOTOS

(or How Not to Solve a Dangerous Problem)

For those not in the know - on 27 Jan 02 the Ikeja Military Cantonement, including a large ammo compound, experienced a series of huge explosions, probably started by fire in a nearby market. In the resultant carnage and ensuing panic hundreds were killed. The UK was asked for help and sent a

recce team to survey the damage.

GROUND ZERO

A nice view from the Comdt’s window

Conventional wisdom normally suggests that Conventional wisdom normally suggests that when you build an ammo compound, the when you build an ammo compound, the storage buildings should be tougher than the storage buildings should be tougher than the surrounding trees.surrounding trees.

Some Some stray stray rounds rounds were were easier to easier to find than find than others.others.

And some seemed to And some seemed to make themselves quite make themselves quite comfortable in their new comfortable in their new surroundingssurroundings

Hands up which ATO wants to deal Hands up which ATO wants to deal with this one...with this one...

One side effect of the One side effect of the disaster is the disaster is the creation of a creation of a burgeoning bugle burgeoning bugle industry.industry.

Brings new meaning to picking up the Brings new meaning to picking up the brass...brass...

The quick The quick solution to solution to re-opening re-opening the route the route in. It goes in. It goes without without saying that saying that most of most of these these rounds’ rounds’ contents contents are still on are still on the road.the road.

Apparently the man who ran the compound also Apparently the man who ran the compound also headed up the clean up. He has a real thing headed up the clean up. He has a real thing about big piles of ammo.about big piles of ammo.

The ATO on the spot

When asked what the UK could do his answer was “Stand a lot further away”.