Police call for calm amid explosion in Maitama

Wike orders LGS to form vigilance groups against kidnapping

HEAVY explosion, yesterday, rocked Maitama, the heart of Abuja, sending panic across the city.

The Federal Capital T erritory ( FCT) Police Command has, however, urged citizens not to panic as blast was due to an over- heated refuse bin. Spokesperson for the com - mand, Josephine Adeh, said: “The FCT Police Command, hereby, wishes to update the public on an alleged explosion on January 24, 2024, about 11.45p. m., near a refuse dump out side the Bureau of Public Enterprises ( BPE) premises in Maitama, Abuja.

“A rapid respo nse team and members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal ( EOD) unit was deployed to assess the situation, and preliminary findings indicate than an over - heated metal refuse container activate d under intense heat, exploded, \ causing injur y to two of t he refuse evacuators, who ar e receiving medical attention in Maitama General Hospital.”

Consequently, the command urged members of the public to refrain from using metal refuse bins. “Instead, we rec - ommend the use of plastic or rubber containers for waste disposal, as they pose a reduced risk of incidents related to overheated metal refuse container,” she added.

FOLLOWING incessant kid - nap incidents in the FCT , the Minister, Nyesom Wike, has ordered vigilance teams to be established in the six area councils of the territory.

He also ordered members of such groups to be subjected to thorough profiling.

At a strategic security meeting with members of the FCT Council of Chiefs and council chairmen, yesterday, Wike said his administration would con - tinue to work with the traditional rulers in ensuring fool- proof security for the nation's capital.