Explosion Reported At Shopping Mall In Abuja

UPDATE 3: A second bomb was later discovered in the area, which was safely detonated.

In a statement, spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Yushau A. Shuaib, said:

“When we were trying to find out what is happening, the anti-bomb squad discovered another one. They just detonated it,” the head of NEMA’s Abuja office, Ishaya Chonoko, told journalists at the scene.



“The good thing is that there was no report of human casualty,” he added.

An AFP reporter said the area was swarming with rescue workers from several emergency services, but that journalists were being kept several hundred meters (yards) back and so it was not possible to survey any potential damage.

An official statement from Nigeria Police Forces in Abuja:

“Today 3rd July 2012 at about 9:30 pm, a low level explosion went off somewhere along Aminu Kano Crescent, near Banex Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja. A crack police team led by the Commissioner of Police in charge of FCT Command- CP Aderenle Shinaba- responded to the distress call, arriving the scene few minutes after the incident. The incident had a zero casualty record- no life lost, no person injured and no car damaged or burnt. Detectives from the Bomb Disposal Unit, assisted by their counterparts from FCT CID have commenced investigation. FCT Police are continuing with their intensive overt and surveillance patrols of the city and wishes to reassure the residents of the police preparedness to continue to provide a safe and secured environment for social and economic activities to thrive unhindered. Meanwhile, mischief makers are in their own interest warned to keep off the city or have themselves to blame as the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them….” CSP Frank Mba (Police Spokesman)

UPDATE 2: Eye witnesses said the bomb was thrown under a car and it injured one person after it exploded.

The injured person was said to have been rushed to a hospital for treatment.

UPDATE 1: In a statement, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said:

“About 30 minutes ago (around 9:00 pm Nigerian time) officers of NEMA received an alert over a suspected explosion at a Shopping Mall (Plaza) in Wuse Abuja II,” NEMA spokesman Yushau A. Shuaib said in a statement received by AFP in Lagos.

Earlier report…

Report reaching us says a car bomb exploded on Tuesday evening in Abuja Park and shop, Banex Plaza in Wuse 2.

The car exploded in front of Park and Shop.

Soldiers deployed to Banex plaza have condoned off the area amidst heightened tension after the explosion.

FCT police commissioner is there at the moment. The police have put up barricades around the area. No one is allowed to take pictures at the moment.