Abuja Gas Plant Fire: Police Blame Wrong-Way Driver, Launch Manhunt

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has attributed a fire outbreak at a cooking gas plant in Byazhin, Kubwa, Abuja, to a driver who allegedly drove against traffic and crashed into the facility.

The incident occurred at about 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at Liberty Junction, Byazhin, according to a statement issued by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh.

The police said the command received a distress call from a resident reporting a fire at the gas plant, prompting the immediate deployment of officers from the Kubwa Police Division to the scene.

According to the statement, the fire had spread to nearby shops and other properties by the time officers arrived. The Federal Fire Service was subsequently contacted and responded to help contain the inferno.

Preliminary investigations reportedly revealed that the driver of an unregistered Toyota 4Runner Jeep was allegedly driving against traffic when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the gas plant.

“The driver and occupants of the vehicle fled the scene immediately,” the police said.

The command disclosed that it had established the driver’s identity and launched a manhunt to apprehend him. It added that the fire had been contained and no casualties were recorded.

The police said the full value of the property destroyed in the incident was yet to be determined, while normal activities had resumed in the area.

The command urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station or through its emergency lines:08032003913 and 08028940883.