By Our Reporter
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has launched a manhunt for the driver of an unregistered Toyota 4Runner Jeep that allegedly crashed into a cooking gas plant at Byazhin, Abuja, triggering a fire.
The incident occurred at about 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 27, 2026, after the driver reportedly drove against traffic and lost control of the vehicle.
The FCT Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, said the command received a distress call from a resident at Liberty Junction, Byazhin, reporting a fire outbreak at a nearby cooking gas sales plant.
She said officers from the Kubwa Police Division were immediately deployed to the scene, where they found the fire had engulfed nearby shops and other properties.
According to Adeh, the police contacted the Federal Fire Service, whose personnel responded and worked with the officers to contain the blaze.
“Preliminary investigations by the Police team revealed that the fire outbreak was caused by the driver of an unregistered Toyota 4Runner Jeep, who was driving against traffic (one-way),” Adeh said.
She said the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the cooking gas plant, causing an explosion that spread to nearby shops and other properties.
“The driver and occupants of the vehicle fled the scene immediately,” she added.
Adeh said the police had established the identity of the driver and were currently tracking him.
She added that the fire had been contained and no casualties were recorded, although the full value of property destroyed in the incident was yet to be determined.
The police spokesperson said normalcy had been restored in the area and residents could return to their businesses.
She urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency lines.
The command said it would provide further information as investigations into the incident continue.