A claim that a bomb blast had occurred in Maitama, a highbrow district in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja has been circulating online, particularly on X.
The claim was posted by an X user: @A_Y_Rafindadi on the app.
The post was shared alongside a picture showing a fire incident involving vehicles with passersby watching.
The post read thus:
Subhanallah: BOMB BLAST IN MAITAMA, ABUJA There are reports of a loud explosion in the Maitama area of Abuja, occurring a week after the Ibadan explosion that claimed the lives of 5 people. Currently, there is no confirmed information about the situation. If you’re in Maitama, please give us update. What’s happening?
The post has gone viral and also appeared on different posts on X which can be seen here, here and here, before it was later deleted.
CLAIM
Image shows bomb explosion in Maitama.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING!
A Google Reverse Image search conducted on the image revealed that the photo has been online since about ten years ago.
The image was from the bomb blast that occurred at Emab Plaza in Wuse District of Abuja on the 25th of June, 2014 which was reportedly carried out by the Boko Haram terrorists and which left over 20 people dead as reported by local and international media platforms.
Josephine Adeh, the Spokesperson of the FCT Police command, on Wednesday stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the Maitama explosion was not bomb related but rather caused by a heated waste bin.
“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. They pose a reduced risk of incidents related to over heated metal refuse container,” her post read.
ALLEGED EXPLOSION IN MAITAMA NOT BOMB RELATED; RESULT OF OVER HEATED REFUSE BIN.
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— SP JOSEPHINE ADEH PPRO FCT (@Jossy_Dannyking) January 24, 2024
THE VERDICT
The claim that the image shows bomb explosion in Maitama is MISLEADING; findings show that the image has been online since about 10 years ago, while there was no bomb blast incident in the locality in January 2024.
Seasoned fact-checker and researcher Fatimah Quadri has written numerous fact-checks, explainers, and media literacy pieces for The FactCheckHub in an effort to combat information disorder. She can be reached at sunmibola_q on X or [email protected].
