- Adeh said the metal exploded, thereby causing injury to two of the refuse evacuator.
- The FCT Police Command urges members of the public to exercise caution and refrain from using metal refuse bins
Residents in Maitama heard a tremendous sound on Wednesday, January 24, that they believed to be a bomb blast. This caused fear in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
An eyewitness reported that the incident happened in the morning at approximately eleven a.m.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the occurrence and stated that an overheated metal garbage container activated under extreme heat, not a bomb blast.
According to Adeh, two of the garbage evacuators were hurt when the metal burst.
She said: “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 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 over heated metal refuse container.”
She said the situation has been brought under control.