By Kazeem Waris
The FCT Police Command, in collaboration with the Federal Fire Service, has contained a fire outbreak at a cooking gas sales plant in Byazhin, Abuja, following an explosion allegedly triggered by a driver who was driving against traffic.
The command said the driver of an unregistered Toyota 4Runner Jeep lost control of the vehicle after driving against traffic and crashed into the gas plant, triggering the fire that spread to nearby shops and properties.
According to the Police, the driver and other occupants of the vehicle fled the scene immediately after the incident, while a manhunt has been launched for the driver, whose identity has reportedly been established.
The FCT Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday night.
She said the command received a distress call at about 6:30 a.m. on September 27, 2026, from a resident reporting a fire outbreak at a cooking gas sales plant near Liberty Junction, Byazhin.
“Following receipt of the report, a Police team from the Kubwa Police Division was promptly deployed to the scene, where they were met with a raging inferno at the gas plant, which had engulfed nearby shops and other properties,” Adeh said.
She added that the police team immediately contacted the Federal Fire Service, whose personnel responded and worked with the police to contain the blaze.
Driver allegedly fled scene
Giving details of the preliminary investigation, Adeh said the fire was allegedly caused by the driver of the unregistered vehicle.
“Preliminary investigations by the Police team revealed that the fire outbreak was caused by the driver of an unregistered Toyota 4Runner Jeep, who was driving against traffic (one-way),” she said.
“The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the nearby cooking gas plant, causing an explosion which engulfed nearby shops and other properties.”
Adeh said the driver and occupants of the vehicle escaped from the scene immediately after the incident.
“While the Command is currently on the trail of the erring driver, having established his identity, the fire has been contained and no casualties have been recorded,” she said.
Property damage assessment ongoing
Although no loss of life was recorded, the Police said several shops and other properties were affected by the inferno.
Adeh said the full extent and value of the property destroyed had yet to be determined.
“However, a detailed assessment of the value of properties lost in the inferno is yet to be determined,” she said.
The command said normalcy had since returned to the area and residents could resume their lawful businesses.
“The Command assures residents that normalcy has been restored and residents can return to their lawful businesses,” Adeh said.
She urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency lines.
The emergency numbers provided by the command are 08032003913 and 08028940883.
