Lagos: Bomb scare in Lagos, police dismiss threat

The  complex  has   offices  of some financial institutions and agencies including Lagos Metropolitan Transport Agency (LAMATA), First Bank Plc, Oceanic Bank Plc and the TransGlobal, operator of RedCab, an official taxi in the state .

About 2:20 p.m. when the rumour of the explosion broke out , the management of the companies  at the complex quickly alerted all workers to vacate the building with immediate effect.

People, including customers who had gone to the complex for one transaction or another, were seen hurriedly leaving the environment. It was not long before policemen arrived at the scene.

They came in their armoured carriers and with additional information that a special anti-bomb squad was on its way to the scene.
An employee of one of the  companies at the complex told The Guardian  that it was difficult to take the threat for granted, considering the frequency of bomb explosions across the country.

“It was highly scary and I am still in a deep shock. Immediately we were told of the bomb, everybody started scampering for our dear lives. I couldn’t even remember my bag, phones and wallet. It was when I got out of the building that a security personnel helped to go and evacuate those things for me. I was even advising him not to go,” she said.
In a telephone interview with our reporter yesterday, the Lagos Police Commissioner, Marvel Akpoyibo, dismissed the bomb attack.

He said people should be careful about the ways they circulate rumours,  which he claimed could be too shocking, unbearable and injurious to some individuals, who may not be able to absorb them.
According to him, the bomb scare was nothing but a baseless rumour aimed at creating confusion in the land.

“Just two days ago, I issued a press release, warning people, especially Lagosians on how they spread rumours, especially those bordering on security. They should ensure that whatever information they get should be confirmed and passed to the security agencies, including the police for necessary action before spreading rumours that could be injurious to some individuals, who might not be able to absorb them. The way they are scaring people is not good and not fair at all. Not every individual has the strength to withstand such a shock.

“I just spoke to the management of the Motorways and there was nothing like the rumoured bomb explosion threat. My men have been drafted there since. The rumour said the bomb would be detonated in 30 minutes  and now, two hours later, there is nothing like that. So, I am just advising Lagosians and Nigerians as a whole, to be very careful on the way they manage sensitive information relating to security of lives and property in the country,” he added.

In the last three months, there has been  insecurity in  the country, with series of bombings which have caused the death of about 150 people, including officials of the Nigerian Army, State Security Services (SSS) and innocent Nigerians.
The first explosion was recorded during the nation’s 50th Independence anniversary in Abuja. The incident was followed by bomb blasts in Maiduguri, Borno State.  

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has been asked to urgently constitute a judicial commission of enquiry to investigate the main cause of violence in the country.
Chairman, National Think-tank and Publicity Commission, Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam in Nigeria, Alhaji Muktar Babatunde Ayorinde in a statement said that the development would help to curb once and for all the violence.

In a statement entitled: “Enough is enough”, the cleric said Islam abhors violence, adding that the religion is against the use of terrorist tactics such as bomb explosions to settle scores.

According to him, “the movement extends its profound condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and prays for the repose of those who lost their lives and prays for the speedy recovery of those wounded.”
Ayorinde noted that they were disturbed by the death of fellow human beings through cowardly act, describing the deadly act “as barbaric, inhuman and unIslamic.”

“Islam abhors violence and is against the use of terrorist tactics such as bomb explosions to settle score”, he added.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states had on Wednesday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to order the dislodgement of the various terrorists’ training camps in the region.

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Posted by admin on Jan 6 2011. Filed under Lagos, Nigerian Police, State News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry