By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo
The Osun State Police Command has issued a stern warning to scrap and waste dealers in the state to exercise extreme caution while handling metallic materials that could contain explosive devices.
The warning came during a sensitisation exercise organised by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Unit, Base 16, Osogbo, in collaboration with the National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employees of Nigeria (NASWDEN), Osun Chapter.
Held on Friday at NASWDEN’s state office along Ring Road, Osogbo, the session was aimed at averting the rising risk of accidental detonations from military-grade or industrial explosives unknowingly picked up by scrap workers.
Addressing participants, the Commander of EOD Base 16, SP Godwin Ogigha, said ignorance and carelessness in the handling of hazardous materials have led to avoidable explosions in some parts of the country.
He noted that the increasing involvement of civilians in recycling and scrap collection calls for stronger public enlightenment to forestall tragedies.
“Explosives can be hidden in metal scraps, gas cylinders, or even disposed military equipment. Once handled without proper knowledge, the result could be catastrophic,” Ogigha cautioned.
He urged scrap dealers to report suspicious or sealed metallic objects to security agencies instead of attempting to dismantle them for sale.
Participants at the event underwent practical drills on identifying explosive materials and responding swiftly to emergencies.
In his remarks, the Chairman of NASWDEN, Osun Chapter, commended the police for prioritising their safety and pledged to replicate the training across all local government areas.
He assured that the association would ensure its members adopt the new safety standards and maintain close communication with law enforcement agencies.
The sensitisation programme forms part of the police’s renewed effort to curb security risks linked to informal waste recycling and to strengthen collaboration between law enforcement and civilian operators in the state.