Bomb Scare @ Shoprite, Enugu

Shoprite in Enugu capital city, and operators of other business outfits within the complex, yesterday, locked up their shops for hours following alleged threat by some unidentified persons to bomb the complex.

The two major entrances to the complex were locked as early as 6 a.m. when reports of the bomb threat, allegedly circulated through text messages, got to the authorities.

Security operatives including mobile policemen and men of the Anti-Bomb Squad as well as private security men guarding the complex, prevented workers and customers from entering the premises as tension gripped residents of the area.

Some officials of the state government were seen within the premises talking with the senior managers of Shoprite on how to beef up security in the complex while operatives of the police Anti-Bomb unit were busy searching for explosives within the large complex.

When the search was completed and no explosive found, the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Abubakar Adamu Mohammed, who led some security chiefs to the complex, directed the workers to open their offices to customers at 12.30 p.m.

Even after the shops were opened, many customers and visitors, who were hanging  outside  for about four hours refused to move inside to make purchases until the police officers gave them a firm assurance that the complex was safe.

Shoprite and other shops in the complex later resumed operations at about 2pm yesterday, but the patronage was poor.

Source: Vanguard