BARELY five months after a deadly blast rocked a school in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, another explosion has sent shivers down the spines of the city’s residents.
On May 26, an explosion rocked a bus stop opposite the Mogadishu Cantonment, one of the largest military barracks in Abuja.
Initial reports indicated that the blast claimed the life of one person, suspected to be a suicide bomber, while another individual was critically injured.
A short statement by the Nigerian Army on its X handle, confirmed the incident, adding that the explosion happened at the bus stop opposite the cantonment.
“Explosion at bus stop opposite Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja. Situation under control. Details later,” the statement read.
Reacting to the incident, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command confirmed that a “comprehensive investigation” was underway to determine the cause and nature of the explosion.
The Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, in a statement, said officers from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit were deployed to the scene after the Command received a distress call around 2:50 pm.
The area, located along the busy Mararaba-Nyanya bypass, was cordoned off to ensure the safety of residents and commuters.
Adeh confirmed that one male victim was rescued and taken to a hospital, where he is receiving medical attention.
“One male victim was rescued at the scene and promptly taken to the hospital, where he is currently receiving medical attention. A comprehensive investigation has commenced, including detailed forensic analysis, to ascertain the exact cause and nature of the explosion,” the statement read.
While the military and police did not officially confirm any deaths, videos circulating from the scene showed a man’s lifeless, disfigured body being carried into a security vehicle.
This latest explosion came barely five months after the incident at the Tsangagyar Sani Uthman Islamiyya School in Kuchibuyi village, Bwari Area Council, where an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated, killing two men who had allegedly brought the device to the school.
The blast also left a female trader and a third visitor critically injured.
Abuja has not only witnessed attacks by suspected terrorists, it has seen several cases of abduction of its residents by gunmen in recent months.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M