Gas Explosion Rocks Shopping Plaza In Abuja

A gas explosion which occurred on Thursday caused residents and shoppers around Shagari Plaza on Moshood Abiola Way, Garki-Area One, Abuja to flee for their lives

The quick succession in which the explosion occurred made customers and neighbours to scamper into safety. Many expressed fears that it was a bomb explosion. Continue>>>

During the explosion, over 20 gas cylinders flew in the air, causing so much panic and confusin, and that there would have been loss of lives but for the chains used to hold down the cylinders.

But an eyewitness account said the first explosion occurred at about 5:17pm when a gas cylinder exploded. A jeep parked close to the gas dispenser went up in flames.

The gas retailer, who tried to recover his money kept under one of the cylinders, was also caught in the explosion while trying to save his earnings for the day. “He kept it under one of the cylinders. As he was trying to take the money, another cylinder exploded,” another eyewitness said.

Another witness said the retailer took delivery of the gas supply on Wednesday.

“They just supplied him the gas yesterday (Wednesday). We are surprised because we still don’t know what happened. We only heard a big bang,” he said.

The retailer was said to be receiving treatments at an undisclosed hospital as of the time of filing this report.

The FCT Command Public Relations Officer, Hyelhira Daniel, who was present at the scene of the explosion, attempted to douse the tension, by explaining to the people that the explosion was not as a result of a bomb blast, but a gas explosion.