Loud explosion causes confusion near Abuja

There was a loud explosion around the Kurudu area of Abuja Thursday morning, but there is yet no official confirmation of what was responsible.

The explosion which set off a panic in the town and adjoining communities occurred near the Kurudu Army Estate.

A resident of the estate told TheCable that he heard a deafening bang about past 9am.

“The blast shook my house. My neighbours and I dashed out to locate where the blast came from, but we could not find the site,” he said.

Another resident of the estate said that he was returning from Morning Mass when he heard a “shattering explosion”.

He explained: “As soon as I heard the blast I made straight for cover. I thought it was an attack. However, after some time I discovered that there was no smoke anywhere. Some people are saying that it the explosion came from the blasting of rock, but this has never happened.

“When did they start blasting rock at Kurudu?”

As of the time TheCable got to the town soldiers on patrol trucks were searching for the site of the blast.

“It appears to be an explosion without smoke, and most likely from rock-blasting,” a soldier said.

There was free movement of people in and out of the estate after checks at the gate.

The confusion and panic in the town is palpable as residents are uncertain about whether the blast was an attack or not.

Kurudu, which is situated on the outskirts of Abuja, is near Nyanya.