The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bomb scare

  • Ebonyi NYSC cancels terminal parade over bomb scare

    Ebonyi NYSC cancels terminal parade over bomb scare

    The Terminal parade for the 2015 Batch B stream two National Youth Service Corp, (NYSC) members deployed to Ebonyi State was Wednesday put off following a bomb scare at the camp ground.

    The parade was expected to take place at the Old McGregor College orientation camp Afikpo, Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state

    The Nation gathered that there was panic and tension at the camp ground when security operative raised the alarm of suspected explosive device in the orientation camp which prompted corps members and officials of the scheme to scamper for safety.

    The security operative attached to the camp ground combed the hostels of the corp members looking for a possible place the device was hidden.

    Sources close to the State Secretariat office of the National Youth Service Corps informed our reporter that the scheme has concluded plans for the terminal parade when the rumor of the alleged discovery of the explosive device filtered in.

    A Corps members who spoke to The Nation in confidence stated that their apprehension was heightened when some unknown faces were seen coming into the camp ground during the camp fire night.

    Following reports by some corps members that unknown faces were seen entering Aso Rock Hostel, the security operatives had to search thoroughly for the device in the hostels.

    As the panic raged in the camp ground, the leadership of the scheme hurriedly distributed posting letters to the corps members to the area of their primary assignment.

    Spokesman, ASP George Okafor who confirmed the development said that the camp ground was safe as no bomb device was found by the Anti bomb Squad deployed to the orientation camp.

    He disclosed that a cable was found at the camp ground adding that the Anti bomb Squad has recovered the cable and would soon come out with its report.

    He noted that security has been beefed up in the camp ground ahead of the posting of another batch of corp members.

    Chairman of NYSC governing board who is also the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Sports, Hon Charles Akpuenika said he got a call from a security agency in the state alerting him on the bomb scare.

    He said he immediately communicated the State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi who ordered that the terminal parade be called off.

    Hon Akpuenika said; “I got a call from a security agency in the state that briefed me on what was happening at the camp ground and the panic the bomb scare created among corps members”.

    “I immediately placed a call to the Governor; he ordered that the terminal parade be called off. The Governor is so interested in the safety every Ebonyi indigene and visitors to the State. He would not desire that anybody be hurt and that was why it was called off”.

    “Actually, from the information I got from the security agency, a cable allegedly usually used to construct bomb was discovered by the security agency at the camp ground”.

    “The cable has been taken by the Anti Bomb Squad and I believe that they would be in a better position to inform us if the cable was actually intended to be used by some miscreants to construct bomb in the area”.

    “Ebonyi is a safe ground for visitors, there has never been any fear of terror attack in the state and we don’t hope to have one. People should feel free to come to the state and there security is assured.”

  • Bomb scare in Aba

    There was palpable fear in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State Saturday morning following the reported discovery of  a material suspected to be an explosive device.

    The Nation gathered that the suspected explosive was discovered in front of Osisioma Local Government Area Council at about 8:30am.

    Sources have it that police anti-bomb squad who were alerted promptly arrived the venue to diffuse and evacuate the IED.

    Members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, it was gathered, were alleging that the ‘bomb’ was planted by the opposition party.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed the incident and, however, said he could not give further details about the incident as he was yet to be properly briefed.

    However, another police source who wouldn’t want to be mentioned said the suspected material was a grenade suspected to have fallen off from one of the soldiers on duty.

    The source, who commended the public for alerting the police, said it shows that people were becoming more conscious of their environment.

    The source said the explosive couldn’t have been planted or dropped by any opposition party member(s) because, according to the source, the grenade is a military grenade.

    However, when journalists visited the area, voters were seen going to their various units while security personnel were at the premises of the council gate.

  • Bomb scare in Abuja

    Residents of Nyanya, Abuja, scampered for safety on Thursday when they saw a car parked in the middle of the road with alleged explosive device.

    An eyewitness, who spoke to The Nation, said the car in question was a Peugeot 406 parked in the area.

    The eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said the incident occurred around noon and people fled in different directions over fear of possible explosion.

    “Actually the car was parked in the middle of the road. When I saw people running, I ran too. It was after I asked somebody that I was told that the car developed fault and the driver has gone to call his mechanic. Security operatives later searched the car and discovered that what was inside it were not explosives but welding materials,” the eyewitness stated.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • FAAN: no bomb scare at Lagos Airport

    FAAN: no bomb scare at Lagos Airport

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said there was no bomb scare on Monday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    This comes as neither the police nor aviation authorities gave details on the outcome of investigation on the suspect allegedly found with explosives at the airport.

    It was learnt that the suspect was in police custody near the airport.

    FAAN said the clarification was to disabuse the minds of those who misrepresented what actually happened at the airport on Monday.

    In a statement by its General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr Yakubu Dati, FAAN said the man arrested at the airport was held for loitering.

    It said this attracted the attention of security personnel.

  • Waste polythene causes panic in Kaduna

    Waste polythene causes panic in Kaduna

    Ordinary waste polythene, packaged in a sack and wrapped with cello tape and dumped by the side of ever busy Ahmadu Bello Way, caused panic within Kaduna metropolis Monday.

    Residents ran helter-skelter, vehicles were diverted and shop owners around the scene hurriedly scamper for safety before calling the attention of the police anti-bomb squad, as content of the sack was suspected to be an explosive device.

    The news of the ‘bomb’ which went round Kaduna town with the speed of light created serious panic and motorist hurriedly took to other routes thereby causing serious traffic jam at such routes.

    Shops owners within Kaduna metropolis also locked up their shops and took to their heels as our correspondent who rushed to the scene observed that people were running for safety and shouts of bomb generated tension around the area.

    Meanwhile, combined team of security personnel comprising of men of the police anti-bomb squad, army and other none uniform security operatives arrived the scene and condoned off the area, while people were asked to stay away from the area pending when the content could be ascertained.

    After carrying out necessary checks with the aid of anti-bomb equipment, the sack was discovered to contain waste polythene bags wrapped in the sack.

    Meanwhile, a military officer who addressed shop owners around the area had earlier confirmed that it was a wheel barrow man that dropped the sack there, urged them to be more vigilant, and henceforth ensure that such persons are not let go un-interrogated.

    When contacted, Kaduna Police spokesperson, SP Aminu Lawan confirmed the incident while commending the people of the area for their consciousness.

    According to SP Lawan, “ there was such scare and panic but there was nothing as speculated, our men upon receiving the call were deployed to the area, it was immediately condoned off while our anti-bomb squad carried out the required checks, and it was discovered that the sack contained waste polythene, no Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) was found it.”

    Meanwhile, as at the time of filing the report, normalcy had returned to the area, with few shops re-opened for business.

  • Bomb scare in Ibadan

    Bomb scare in Ibadan

    There was a bomb scare yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    A rumour circulated around 7:30pm that an explosive was planted in Sabo.

    Residents scampered for safety. People phoned and sent messages to their loved ones, telling them to avoid Sabo/Mokola Roundabout.

    It was gathered that a beggar sighted an explosive device around Mokola Roundabout and raised the alarm.

    Police spokesperson Bisi Ilobanafor described the alarm as false.

    She said after a search by men of the anti-bomb unit, a brief case was found containing an old typewriter.

    Ilobanafor thanked the public for alerting the police, urging them to continue to report suspicious items or movement.

  • Bomb scare in Minna: Police say it’s hoax

    Activities at the Niger State Abdulkareem Lafene Secretariat in Tunga, area of Minna, were grounded for hours Monday following the sighting of an object suspected to be bomb purportedly planted at the entrance of the Office of the Head of Service (HOS).

    Civil Servants and visitors to the complex ran for their dear lives at the spread of the discovery.

    ‪The object, a metallic cylinder filled with dirty materials was placed upside down on the way leading to the block which also housed Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs and the State Economic Commission.

    ‪The object caused panic in the Secretariat as people took to their heels shouting “Bomb! Bomb!! Bomb!!!”.

    Owners of Cars parked within the complex were seen hurriedly driving out their vehicles while officers and men of the Civil Defence Corps attached to the complex cordoned off the area where the suspected object was placed.

    It was gathered that the State headquarters of the Police were immediately contacted and promptly came to the scene.

    ‪An anti-bomb squad was dispatched to the scene led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Alogbo who watched the squad detonated the object only to discover that it was not a bomb.

    ‪The police boss later held the object up and threw away the contents assured the on-lookers that the object was not a bomb as earlier rumoured.

    He later enjoined the people to go about their duties without any fear, describing it as mere hoax.

    Sanity and peace were later restored and Civil Servants went back to their desks.

  • Bomb scare at Port Harcourt Int’l Airport

    Bomb scare at Port Harcourt Int’l Airport

    There was a bomb scare yesterday at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State, with Lagos-bound passengers rushing out of an Aero Contractors’ aircraft.

    One of the 150 passengers created a scene by attempting to disembark, when the plane was about taking off, with others suspecting that he might have planted a bomb in the aircraft.

    The captain of the plane also handled the matter with maturity, with the passengers urged to gently disembark, with thorough screening ensured.

    The errant male passenger was immediately arrested and handed over to the law enforcement agents.

    The distraught passengers initially decided not to return into the plane, demanding another aircraft for the Lagos trip, leading to thorough scanning of the luggage and the compartments of the plane.

    Officials of the airline, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and security operatives had to plead with the passengers, who had earlier had their flight rescheduled from 12 noon to 3 pm, to return to the aircraft for the journey.

    The police anti-bomb squad at the airport, headed by David Azuruigbo, took time to screen the passengers and their luggage, with an assurance that all was well, before the passengers reluctantly returned to the aircraft.

    An official of FAAN, Mrs. Ebele Okey, also assured the passengers of hitch-free journey. The plane eventually took off about 4 pm and landed safely in Lagos.