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| A scene of the accident |
Senator Bala Mohammed of the Federal Capital Territory cleared the air on today's explosions that occurred in one of Abuja's shops.
In an official statement, the Minister said it was not a bomb, but rather a gas explosion at a shop located at Shagari Plaza on Moshood Abiola Way, opposite the ever-busy Area 1 shopping Centre, Garki District, Abuja. The Minister urged the residents and visitors in the area to continue with their legitimate activities.
It would be recalled that a cooking gas retailer was refilling a gas cylinder for a customer when a series of explosions occurred at about 5 p.m. Customers and residents fled the area as they feared the explosions, which occurred in quick succession, were the work of Boko Haram and could be bomb blasts.
The retailer was reportedly injured while trying to drag the gas cylinder further from his shop, but it exploded in the process, causing burns up to his neck; the young man is now receiving medical treatment.
Other gas cylinders caught fire one after another and exploded as people watched from afar. Debris of cylinders flew and were scattered around the area.
Also, according to eyewitnesses, a seller of recharge cards escaped with a slight burn to the hand; he, however, lost his kiosk to the fire.
The men of the FCT Fire Service arrived promptly at the scene and put out the fire. Senator Mohammed advised members of the public to ignore the rumours of a bomb explosion in Abuja as baseless and false.
The FCT Command Public Relations Officer, Altine Daniel, said the situation is now calm in the area. He confirmed that the explosion was caused by a cooking gas and the heat, and two vehicles were damaged in the ensuing fire.
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