27th March, 2014
A huge explosion Thursday evening rocked the ever busy Area 1 Shopping Centre in Abuja, shattering windows.
The explosion, according to the FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, in a statement signed by his special adviser (Media), Nosike Ogbuenyi, occurred at a shop located at Shagari Plaza, opposite the Area 1 shopping centre at Garki District, Abuja.
Mohammed clarified that it was not a bomb explosion as being speculated by residents but gas explosion from a shop located at the plaza.
According to him, the gas cylinder explosion occurred at an open gas shop when the seller was refilling a cylinder for a customer at about 4.45 p.m., adding that there were no casualties.
The FCT Minister said the FCT Fire Service promptly arrived the scene and put out the fire.
He advised members of the public to ignore rumours of a bomb explosion. He described the rumours as baseless and false.