An Abuja gas plant explosion at Liberty Junction in Byazhin, Kubwa, caused panic among residents and traders on Sunday morning after a vehicle crashed into a cooking gas sales plant, triggering a fire that spread to nearby shops and other properties.
The incident occurred at about 6:30 a.m. on September 27, 2026, after the Federal Capital Territory Police Command received a distress call from a resident who reported a fire outbreak at a cooking gas facility in the area.
Police officers from the Kubwa Division were immediately deployed to the scene, where they found the gas plant engulfed in flames. The fire had also spread to surrounding shops and properties before emergency responders arrived to contain the situation.
According to the FCT Police Command, preliminary investigations showed that an unregistered Toyota 4Runner Jeep had crashed into the gas plant after its driver allegedly drove against traffic and lost control of the vehicle.
The police said the impact triggered the explosion and caused the fire to spread across the facility and adjoining properties. The driver and other occupants of the vehicle reportedly fled the scene immediately after the crash.
Police Launch Manhunt After Kubwa Gas Plant Fire
Following the incident, the FCT Police Command said it had established the identity of the driver and launched a manhunt to locate and apprehend him.
The command said the driver allegedly violated a one-way traffic rule before losing control of the vehicle and crashing into the cooking gas facility. Police have continued efforts to locate him as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident proceed.
The police also said officers at the scene promptly contacted the Federal Fire Service after arriving at the burning facility. Firefighters subsequently joined the operation and worked with the police to bring the flames under control.
The Federal Fire Service had earlier confirmed that its FCT personnel and other emergency responders responded to the gas fire at Liberty Junction. According to the service, the quick response helped contain the fire and prevented it from developing into a larger and potentially more destructive incident.
The fire nevertheless caused damage to businesses and other properties around the gas plant. The police said a detailed assessment of the value of the property lost in the incident had not yet been completed.
Reports from the scene provided additional details about the damage caused by the fire. Premium Times reported that at least nine shops were affected, while the vehicle involved in the crash was completely burnt.
BusinessDay also reported that the incident affected a police traffic post and caused temporary disruption to movement around the busy Kubwa area. The publication said the driver and a child were rescued, with the injured driver taken to a medical facility for treatment.
The different accounts provide details from both the authorities and reports from the scene, while the FCT Police Command’s official position remains that no casualties were recorded in the incident.
Normal Activities Resume In Byazhin
After firefighters brought the blaze under control, the FCT Police Command said normal activities had resumed around the affected area.
The command assured residents that they could return to their lawful businesses while investigations continued and urged members of the public to remain security-conscious.
The police also asked residents to promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station or through the emergency numbers provided by the command.
The incident has also raised concerns about road safety around busy commercial locations where cooking gas and other flammable materials are handled. A vehicle losing control near such a facility can create significant risks for traders, motorists, pedestrians and other residents using the area.
For residents and business owners around Liberty Junction and other parts of Byazhin, the response also demonstrated the importance of having emergency services available when fires break out in densely populated areas.
The Federal Fire Service, police and other emergency responders were able to contain the blaze before it spread further, although the full extent and financial value of the property damage remained under assessment.
The FCT Police Command has continued its search for the driver as investigations into the incident proceed. Meanwhile, authorities have advised residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities as normal business activities continue in the area.
