In the early hours of Wednesday 24th January there was panic in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, when residents of Maitama heard a loud sound which was said to be a bomb blast at about 11:00 am.
Confirming the incident, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said it was not a bomb blast but an explosion, saying that an overheated metal refuse container activated under intense heat.
Adeh said the metal exploded, thereby causing injury to two of the refuse evacuators.
“The FCT Police Command hereby wishes to update the public on an alleged explosion on 24/01/2024 at about 11:45 hrs, 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 was deployed to assess the situation and preliminary findings indicate than an overheated metal refuse container activated under intense heat, exploded, thereby causing injury to two of the refuse evacuator, who are currently receiving medical attention in Maitama General Hospital.
“The FCT Police command urge members of the public to exercise caution and refrain from using metal refuse bins. Instead, we recommend the use of plastic or rubber containers for waste disposal, as they pose a reduced risk of incidents related to overheated metal refuse container.”
She said the situation has been brought under control.
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