An explosion on Wednesday rocked Ushafa community, Abuja, near the Department of State Service (DSS) institute and around the exit pipe of the only dam supplying water to the entire FCT residence.
It was gathered that the explosion shook houses in the community to their foundations, especially those within the Usuma Dam quarters and the DSS institute within the axis.
Some farmers in the community had revealed that the explosion came from the quarry site around the only radio station in the area, Jordan FM.
They claimed that the quarry had started full operations despite petitions and queries from different quarters regarding their alleged illegal mining and the danger such will pose to the entire community.
It was gathered that the DSS had kicked against the quarry pointing out that the constant blasting of rocks and extreme noise within the area was a security threat.
The FCT Water Board had also raised the alarm over the impact of the quarry located just a few meters away from the lower part of the Dam that could trigger unimaginable disaster.
Lower Usuma Dam supplies water to FCT homes, including the presidency.
A source at the DSS institute told DailyPost that the activities of the quarry threatens the existence of the institute and poses a general security threat to the FCT due to the constant blasting that would be coming from there.
A resident of Usuma Dam quarters, Mr Henry also revealed that his wife and children were the ones at home when the explosion went off. He said the confusion and fear created by the explosion could have led to another disaster. He said, “Many people came out of their houses in fear and were running to the Dam before they were stopped.”
A landowner whose plot was encroached upon by the company lamented that people who wanted to develop their plots have been stopped due to the quarry activities.
The landowner who does not want his name in print appealed to the government to “ensure the quarry company vacate the area as they have now become a huge danger to residents and landowners. “Imagine where these people are setting up their quarry. Does this make any sense? How can this be allowed? And the worst part is that they have started blasting. The last time we were here to complain, they told us they won’t blast with explosives. This is illegal and cannot continue to happen in Abuja. How can the government be threatening to demolish people’s houses over some unjustified reasons yet cannot act on something that threatens the security and well-being of the people?”