The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has debunked the news of an explosion in Maitama linked to a bomb blast making the rounds on social media.
Residents of Abuja had been sent into a panic mood after the news broke around noon on Wednesday that an explosion had occurred near a refuse dump outside the Bureau of Public Enterprise premises in Maitama ,Abuja.
In a statement issued by the Public Relation Officer, FCT Command ,Josephine Adeh. preliminary findings indicated that an overheated metal refuse container activated under intense heat had exploded causing injury to two people who have since been attended by medical personnel at the Maitama General Hospital .
The Federal Capital Territory has been in the spotlight in recent time for different security challenges which has prompted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory , Nyesome Wike and the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to declare a state of emergency on the security situation in the FCT.
The full Statement as released by the FCT Command :
PRESS RELEASE
ALLEGED EXPLOSION IN MAITAMA NOT BOMB RELATED; RESULT OF OVERHEATED METAL REFUSE BIN.
The FCT Police Command hereby wishes to update the public on an alleged explosion on 24/01/2024 at about 1145 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 urges 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 over heated metal refuse container.
SP Josephine Adeh,
PPRO FCT Police Command.
