Abia Residents Panic Over Bombs Found In Area
Residents of Ohafia area of Abia State were gripped with fear yesterday, July 3, after bombs were reportedly found in the community.
Soldier on duty along the Ebem/Asaga Road had gotten information at about 9a.m that some strange objects were found in the area after some herdsmen passed the area between the house of Nigerian Ambassador to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduekwe and that of the member representing Ohafia South in the state House of Assembly, Mba Ukaha.
According to Daily Sun report, the soldiers after visiting the site and seeing the object, alerted their superiors at the 14 Brigade headquarters, Ohafia who ordered the area to be cordoned off and vehicles stopped from plying that route.
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A source who pleaded anonymity said men of the Bomb Disposal Unit of the Abia State Command were immediately drafted to the area and when they arrived, spotted one of the bombs allegedly connected to a high tension wire. They were said to have detonated the bombs and took them to Umuahia for analysis.
"It was around 9.30am after I had already gone to work that I received the information and I had to rush back home. On my way back, I stopped to see some of the soldiers at the checkpoint because we are friendly and they confirmed the incident to me and I had to rush home immediately.
"Thereafter, the road was cordoned off for about three hours even after the bomb disposal experts from the police had left with the objects to Umuahia," the source said.
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When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Abia State Command, Geoffrey Ogbonna, denied the discovery of any bomb in the area, saying the incident was just a bomb scare.
This is coming barely three weeks after 486 people suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents were arrested by the soldiers of the 144 battalion of the Nigerian Army in Asa, near Aba, Abia State, though the suspects insisted they were innocent job seekers from northern Nigeria.
The arrest caused hot discussions among Nigerians with many doubting the validity of the operation and claiming that those detained were simply traders who had nothing to do with Boko Haram. Kano authorities also made a move to ensure release of suspects shortly after the incident.
Source: Legit.ng
