Police calm residents after bomb scare in Ebonyi

Pandemonium, fear and panic gripped residents of Abakaliki in Ebonyi State capital yesterday following alleged discovery of a device by the Police bomb disposal unit in the state. It was gathered that the suspected device was said to have been planted by unknown person  near a first generation bank along the ever-busy Water Walks Road, Abakaliki, the state capital at about 7am in the morning. It was gathered that the device in a can suspected to be a bomb caused uproar in the area which made customers of the bank and passersby to scamper for safety. This attracted the attention of the police, who came and cordoned off the area for about 30 minutes while trying to diffuse the device. But the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Chris Anyanwu an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the substance detonated by the policebomb disposal unit near an old generation bank in Abakaliki, the state capital was not a bomb. According to him, 'it was a black jelly substance concealed in a 25 liter jerry can; it was not an improvised explosive device.' Anyanwu also dismissed rumour of insecurity in violence-prone Ezillo axis of Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway and enjoined motorists to go about their lawful businesses without fear. The incident attracted mixed reactions from residents of Abakaliki, the state capital, who expressed surprise over such development. The manager, bank services of the bank where the substance was destroyed (name withheld) declined comment on the incident but assured that the bank had always made adequate security arrangement to ensure the safety of its customers. Meanwhile, normalcy and calm have returned to the bank and the city as people were seen going about their normal businesses. - The Sun.