BOMB SCARE ROCKS EDO AGAIN

Bomb scare rocks Edo again
From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Another bomb scare alarm was raised in Benin yesterday, two weeks after a similar alarm was raised following the discovery of a bomb at the premises of the State House of Assembly. This time around, the bomb was allegedly planted at the state owned Edo Broadcasting Service [EBS] premises at Ikpoba-Okha Hill, along Benin-Auchi Road.

It was learnt that cleaners at the broadcast station discovered the bomb allegedly planted behind the station's transmitter while carrying out their duties.

Informed sources at the station disclosed that the cleaners who were apparently oblivious of the lethal weapon had mistaken it for a charm. The cleaners called other members of staff who on close examination confirmed it to be a bomb.

The discovery of the object was said to have prompted the General Manager, Mr. Tunde Ebozojie to alert the police who immediately arrived the station to detonate the bomb.

Briefing journalists on the bomb scare, Commissioner of Police, Edo State, Mr. Emmanuel Udeoji explained that at about 11.00 am, police got an urgent call that an object suspected to be an explosive device was at the Edo Broadcasting Service.

He told journalists that police bomb experts on getting to the station recovered two high explosives, which were to be activated by fire, and detonated them.

He explained that the two devices have the capacity of causing total collapse of buildings located between 80 and 100 metres radius of the location.

The commissioner gave assurance that Edo State was safe and urged the people not to be scared adding that police was on top of the situation.

The police boss advised the people to be very vigilant and watch out for things that may take away their liberty and freedom.

Mr. Udeoji disclosed that there were killings in Benin arising from supremacy struggle between two-cult groups- the Black Axe and the Markvites. According to him, nine persons have lost their lives.

He disclosed that six of the dead persons were identified, as members of the Black Axe, while the remaining three were members of the Markvites.

He said police has intensified patrols and would soon arrest those identified as leaders of the groups. He therefore urged members of the public to give police information on the activities of cult groups in the state.

Meanwhile, leaders of Police Bomb Expert that detonated the devices that was uncovered at the Edo Broadcasting Station, DSP Taiwo Akin, explained that the explosives were foreign and were meant for blasting of rocks.

He told journalists that the two devices might have been planted in the night because the cleaners at the broadcast station worked at the scene the previous day and did not see the explosives.