Bomb Scare In PH, NASS …As People Scamper For Safety

The entire Ikwerre and Railway Roads in Port Harcourt were deserted for about 30 minutes as the news of the presence of an explosive within the area at about 1.30pm travelled far and wide the state capital.
Family members were said to have made frantic phone calls to their loved ones who had gone to a market located within the area so as to be sure that their (loved ones) were alive.
An eyewitness said the strange man, whose movement up and down the road with the bag clung to his shoulder became suspicious, suddenly dropped the bag and immediately left the place.
According to the eyewitness, who identified himself as Chief Eze, “The woman, who noticed the suspicious movement of the man, raised the alarm while pointing at the black bag that was abandoned on the floor.
“The Anti-Bomb Disposal Unit of the police came to the place, picked up the bag and checked what was inside before taking it away.
“Before the policemen left, bystanders asked them what was in the bag. Their response was that members of the public should always inform the police whenever they noticed any strange movement or object within their environment.”
However, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, said there was no bomb in the laptop bag.
Ogunsakin, who spoke through his Personal Assistant, Mr. Tunji Wusu, said the bag contained a laptop suspected to have been stolen by the unidentified man that dropped it by the road side.
Meanwhile, Legislators and civil servants yesterday afternoon vacated the National Assembly Complex in Abuja following a bomb scare around the complex.
The workers at the complex were apprehensive, as it was only on Monday that hundreds of people were killed in a bomb explosion at Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja.
Offices, banks and restaurants within the premises quickly locked up, while officers of the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Department of State Security Service were alerted and they quickly mobilised and were seen patrolling the area to avert any mishap.
The confusion, which started around 2 p.m., followed a tip allegedly given during a meeting between the clerk of the National Assembly and management staff.
The tension spread as far as the Federal Secretariat and civil servants were seen trooping out of their offices.
Some of the workers, who were rushing out of the premises, told newsmen that their superiors directed them to lock-up and go home.
Reacting to the development, the Acting Sergeant-at-Arms, Mr Ibrahim Ndako, said the bomb scare was a mere rumour and should be disregarded.
He said “there is nothing like that. It was just a rumour. Those banks that closed chose to close. We have told you that there is nothing like that. It is all rumour.’’
Traders at the popular Railway market in the Mile 1, Diobu area of Port Harcourt City Local Government of Rivers State, yesterday, scampered for safety following the discovery of a substance suspected to be an explosive in a black waterproof bag.
The Tide learnt that the substance was allegedly dropped by two men who hurriedly left the scene.
The tide further learnt that following the discovery of the item the Police Anti-bomb Squad Unit of the Rivers State Police Command later arrived ever-busy area and took the bag and its content away for analysis.
A trader, who spoke under condition of anonymity told The Tide that the situation created fear and panic among the traders, some of whom had to abandon their wares and fled.
Another trader told The Tide that the entire area was condoned off by the Police, thus preventing people from young closer to the site of the suspected explosive.
He said that traders have reasons to fear following the happenings in other parts of the country, and commended the Police Anti-bomb Squad for their timely arrival to take the substance away.

Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (Right) flanked by High Chief Jonah Tamuno and Ogu/Bolo council chairman, Hon (Mrs) Maureen Tamuno at the commissioning of an electricity project in Ogu/Bolo LGA at the weekend.