Gas explosion causes panic in Abuja

Residents of the FCT were yesterday thrown into panic following a gas explosion at a shop located at Shagari Plaza, opposite the Area 1 Shopping Centre in Garki, Abuja.
Activities at the Area 1 Shopping Plaza were brought to a halt as shop owners and their clients ran in different directions as the loud explosion was thought to be from an improvised explosive device (IED) commonly used by the Boko Haram sect.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Nosike Ogbuenyi, urged residents to disregard reports  making the rounds that there was a bomb explosion in Abuja.
He enjoined all residents and visitors in the territory to continue with their legitimate activities without fear as what happened was a mere gas explosion at a shop located at Shagari Plaza opposite the ever busy Area 1 shopping Centre.
The explosion occurred at an open gas shop when the seller was refilling a cylinder for a customer at about 4.45pm and there were no casualties.