The police said it was an explosion caused by an overheated metal refuse container activated under intense heat.

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has debunked reports of a bomb blast in the Maitama District of the territory on Wednesday.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, a superintendent of police, the police said it was an explosion caused by an overheated metal refuse container activated under intense heat.

Reports indicated earlier in the day that there was a bomb blast in the federal capital.

The police explained that the explosion occurred at a dump site outside the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) premises, inflicting injury to two refuse evacuators, who are currently receiving medical attention in Maitama General Hospital.

"The FCT Police Command hereby wishes to update the public on an alleged explosion on January 24, 2024, at about 11:45 a.m., near a refuse dump outside the Bureau of Public Enterprise premises in Maitama, Abuja.

"A rapid response team and members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit were deployed to assess the situation and preliminary findings indicate that an overheated metal refuse container activated under intense heat, exploded, thereby causing injury to two of the refuse evacuators, who are currently receiving medical attention in Maitama General Hospital.

"The FCT Police Command urges members of the public to exercise caution and refrain from using metal refuse bins. Instead, we recommend the use of plastic or rubber containers for waste disposal, as they pose a reduced risk of incidents related to overheated metal refuse containers," the statement said.