Abuja residents were startled by a loud noise on Wednesday morning, as rumours of a bomb blast spread across the nation’s capital.
However, Police have dismissed the reports, saying the explosion was caused by an overheated metal refuse bin.
The FCT Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, explained that the explosion occurred near a refuse dump in the Maitama District, injuring two refuse evacuators.
She cautioned residents against using metal refuse bins due to the risk of overheating, according to a statement on Wednesday, January 24.
Parts of the statement read; “The FCT Police Command hereby wishes to update the public on an alleged explosion on January 24, 2024, at about 11:45am, near a refuse dump outside the Bureau of Public Enterprise premises in Maitama, Abuja.
“A rapid response team and members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit were deployed to assess the situation and preliminary findings indicate that an overheated metal refuse container activated under intense heat, exploded, thereby causing injury to two of the refuse evacuators, who are currently receiving medical attention in Maitama General Hospital.”
The FCT Federal Emergency Management Agency also confirmed the police statement, saying that there was no bomb blast in Maitama, Abuja. The agency said it was working with the police and other relevant authorities to ensure the safety and security of the residents.
An eyewitness who asked not to be named said he heard a loud bang and saw smoke coming from the dump site. He said he initially thought it was a bomb blast, but later learned that it was a metal refuse bin that exploded.
“It was not a bomb explosion that occurred at Maitama. There was a bang at a dump site outside the Bureau of Public Enterprise premises in Maitama, and the sudden loud, sharp noise that was heard was caused by an eruption from a metallic waste bin that had been heated by the sun. And police EOD have been deployed to the scene, and calm has been restored in the area,” he said.
