Bomb Scare In Enugu Market, As Traders, Others, Scamper For Safety

Posted by African Examiner Ignatius Okpara, Latest Headlines, News From The State Thursday, February 6th, 2014

IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu,

The popular and ever busy Obollo Afor market in Udenu council area of Enugu state was Thursday thrown into confusion, as both traders and buyers scampered for their safety, following the discovery of a device suspected to be bomb inside the market.

Immediately the alarm of the suspected bomb was raised, every body in the market quickly vacated the area for fear of explosion.

The device according to an eyewitness who spoke to African Examiner had the shape of a motorcycle battery with two strings of wires attached to it.

According to him,”it was put in a carton which was hidden inside the market, and people with courage converged at the area to catch a glimpse of it, while many who were afraid took to their heels for fear of uncertainty.”

He said some policemen who came to the scene could not get close to the place where the device was, rather, they stayed far away, pointing at the spot, while some of them were busy making telephone calls, probably to alert their colleagues in the bomb department.

The source who could not say the exact time when the device was discovered, said the news filtered into the market at about 6’oclock in the morning when some traders saw the unusual phenomenon at the yam section of the market.

He said tension became high because of the dastardly activities of members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, that have been terrorising parts of Northern Nigeria.

Our correspondent reports that the suspected bomb is being linked to the dreaded Boko Haram members, because Obollo Afor is at the borders of Enugu and Benue State.

There are also fears that Boko Haram may have chosen the area to launch their attacks on South East Nigeria because of its proximity to Northern Nigeria.

When African Examiner contacted Enugu state Police public Relations Officer PPRO, Ebere Amarizu, for his reaction, he said he was yet to get information about the suspected bomb, saying, “I am not aware but I’ll find out,” he stated.