Dousing tension, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has attributed the explosion in the Maitama area of the city to overheated metal refuse bin.
A statement issued by the Command's Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, countered the rumoured claims of some residents linking the explosion to bomb blast.
It reads “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 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 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 overheated metal refuse containers,” the statement said.