NIGERIA: Army Declares Abuja Blast ‘Under Control’

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

The Nigerian Army has assured residents of the Federal Capital Territory that the bomb explosion which occured near the Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja, on Monday, is under control.

In a brief post on X (formerly Twitter), the Army said, “Explosion At Bus Stop Opposite Mogadishu Cantonment Abuja. Situation Under Control. Details Later.”

The statement came after a suspected suicide bomber was killed in an attempted infiltration of the military barracks, popularly known as Abacha Barracks.

According to multiple eyewitness accounts, the explosion occurred around 2:14 p.m. near a pedestrian bridge adjacent to a checkpoint where passengers often disembark before entering the cantonment.

Sources said the attacker had alighted from a Volkswagen Golf vehicle and began moving suspiciously toward the checkpoint before being stopped by military police.

“He was asked to step back for proper identification. Moments later, the explosive device he was carrying went off, killing him instantly and injuring at least two others,” one witness said.

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command confirmed the explosion and said officers from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit were immediately deployed to secure the area.

Police spokesperson Josephine Adeh said one injured victim was rescued and taken to the hospital, while a forensic investigation was underway to establish the nature of the blast.

She urged residents to remain calm and alert, promising heightened surveillance and asking the public to report suspicious movements to security agencies.

The incident, which rattled commuters along the busy Mararaba-Nyanya bypass, has renewed fears over security in the capital, but authorities insist there is no immediate threat.

As of press time, the Army had not released further details beyond its initial update.