Decade-old photo shows 2014 bomb attack in Abuja, not 2024 explosion

“Explosion rocks Maitama, Abuja today, on Ikeja Cantonment Bomb Blast Remembrance Day,” reads a post published on X on January 24, 2024.  

The Ikeja cantonment bomb blast refers to a devastating explosion at a military garrison’s ammunition depot in January 2002 that left hundreds of people dead (archived here).

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Screenshot showing the false post, taken on February 1, 2024

The post has since been shared more than 70 times.

The photo shows bystanders looking at cars engulfed in flames and dark smoke bellowing from what appears to be a business complex.

The image was also shared elsewhere on X here and Facebook (here and here).

According to local news reports, an explosion caused by an overheated metal refuse container occurred in Abuja’s Maitama neighbourhood on January 24, 2024, injuring two people (archived here).

However, the picture does not show this explosion, which also did not occur on the anniversary of the Ikeja disaster.

Decade-old image

Using a reverse image search, AFP Fact Check found the photo in the Associated Press archives.

The caption describes an explosion in June 2014 at the Emab Plaza, a shopping complex in Abuja (archived here).

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A screenshot of the original image taken from the Associated Press photo archive

According to an AFP report, Nigeria’s dreaded Boko Haram militants were suspected of carrying out the attack that resulted in more than 20 deaths (archived here).

2024 explosion

Nigerian police spokeswoman Josephine Adeh confirmed that the explosion in Maitama was caused by an overheated metal refuse bin (archived here).

Nigeria has been grappling with insecurity for years. Kidnappings, explosions and killings have become common occurrences in Africa’s most populous country (archived here). 

President Bola Tinubu, who came to power last year, vowed to address the issue, but critics say the violence is out of control.