An explosion and fire at a gas station in Liberty Junction, Kubwa, Abuja, sparked panic on Sunday morning.
At about 6:30 a.m., the Federal Fire Service’s FCT Command said its firefighters and other emergency personnel quickly arrived at the scene, contained the fire and prevented a potentially catastrophic gas explosion.
Verifying the incident in a statement posted on its Facebook page on Sunday, the command said, “Federal Fire Service, FCT Command firefighters and other emergency responders today, Sunday 27th September 2026 at about 6:30am swiftly responded to a gas fire at Liberty Junction, Kubwa, Abuja, averting what would have been a major destructive gas explosion.”
A video from the scene showed smoke rising from the heavily damaged building near the gas outlet. Motorcycles and cars around the area also appeared to have been affected by the fire.
Eyewitnesses who reported the incident on Facebook said the fire started after a car driving against traffic collided with a station where gas cylinders were stored. The claim has not been independently verified.
Residents in surrounding neighbourhoods, including Dantata Estate, said the explosion was loud enough to wake them from sleep. Some residents also reported that the blast shook their buildings.
Impact of the explosion
The vehicle involved was completely burnt and reduced to a blackened shell, while the resulting fire damaged at least nine commercial shops. However, first responders successfully rescued a young child and the driver from the scene.
A nearby police traffic post sustained damage from the impact, leaving the temporary structure displaced among scattered debris. The incident also damaged a section of the adjacent drainage system.
The explosion caused severe traffic congestion along the corridor as commuters, motorcyclists, and bystanders gathered near the site.
Fire trucks occupied portions of the roadway as emergency personnel worked to control the situation and clear the damaged area, although no deaths were recorded.
The injured driver was transported to a medical facility for treatment following the incident. His condition could not be immediately determined.
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