The FCT Police Command has confirmed explosion from an overheated metal refuse container on Wednesday, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Panic rocked the FCT when residents of Maitama heard a loud sound around 11:45am which was thought to be a bomb blast.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said it was not a bomb blast but an explosion caused by high temperature at a refuse dump outside the Bureau of Public Enterprise premises in Maitama, Abuja.
Adeh said two refuse evacuators were injured after the metal exploded.
She added that, “a rapid response team and members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit was deployed to assess the situation”
The FCT Police Command urged members of the public to exercise caution and refrain from using metal refuse bins.
According to the police, “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.