BEVERLY HILLS, CA, June 25, (THEWILL) – A big shopping mall in Abuja, Nigeria’s main capital city has been hit by an explosion believed to be a bomb.
The mall, Emab Plaza, is located in Wuse 2 District.
The blast occurred at a few minutes past 4.pm local time.
Witnesses in the area told THEWILL that the blast was huge. They reported seeing billows of smoke rising into the sky.
The explosion occurred at a mini taxi park located at the exit of the often very busy mall. An IED was reportedly detonated at the park located along Aminu Kano Crescent.
Scores of mangled bodies were seen splashed around the scene of the blast while at least 40 vehicles were destroyed by the explosion.
Witnesses also said a part of the mall housing shops and offices was destroyed.
THEWILL gathered that victims have been transported to two local hospitals – Wuse General Hospital and the Maitama General Hospital.
Emergency personnel and security operatives have since arrived the scene of the incident.
The number of casualties remains unclear as at the time of filing this report though there are reports that scores could have been killed and wounded.
The blast occurred just hours after President Goodluck Jonathan left Abuja for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea to participate in the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union’s Summit of Heads of State and Government.