By Fatima Saka
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has firmly disassociated itself from social media reports alleging that the recent explosion near the Mogadishu Cantonment bus stop in Abuja was the result of a suicide bombing.
In an official statement released on Wednesday, NEMA clarified that it did not issue any comments attributing the cause of the incident to a suicide attack, as widely circulated online. The agency emphasized that its primary mandate in emergency situations is to coordinate response efforts among relevant stakeholders and not to investigate or determine the cause of such events.
“Determining the cause of explosions or other security-related incidents falls strictly within the jurisdiction of the Nigeria Police and other competent security agencies,” the agency stated.
NEMA further disclosed that the misleading information originated from a suspected breach of its official communication platform, which is now under internal investigation.
The agency referred the public and media to its verified press release on the incident, issued through its Press Unit, which detailed its emergency response efforts at the scene without making any assertions about the origin or nature of the explosion.
The clarification comes amid growing public concern and speculation following the blast, which rattled the capital city earlier this week. Authorities are continuing investigations to determine the actual cause of the explosion.
The public is urged to rely on official channels for verified information as investigations by security agencies progress.
