+ PHOTOS from reports of the bomb detonation at government house, one of the safest locations in the ancient city of Lokoja
A bomb explosion, on Tuesday morning, reportedly rocked the ever-busy post office area of Lokoja, making residents scamper for safety.
Several media in Nigeria including Daily Trust, Punch and Sahara reporters reported the incident.
The bomb explosion, according to a report by Sahara Reporters, actually took place around the premises of the office of the Secretary to Kogi State Government, Ministry of Women Affairs and Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs.
“The explosion, which made workers and many residents scamper for safety, happened around 8.30am when workers were resuming in their various offices and shop owners were out to open their shops for the daily business,” Daily Trust reported.
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It was learnt that an object like a bomb was sighted around the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs which has in its opposite and adjacent, offices of the secretary to the state government and Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs, including the newly completed Muhammadu Buhari event centre that is awaiting Commission at the far opposite.
When contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka, confirmed the incident.
He said, “Yes, what happened was, we were informed of a package that looked like a bomb, left on the premises; and I immediately, deployed the bomb disposal unit there to assess the object.
“The object was immediately blown up, the explosion you heard was the handwork of our bomb disposing unit brought about by their efforts to blow up the object.”
He said an investigation has commenced to ascertain the character of the object to measure the motive behind its presence in the areas.
The Kogi State Government has, however, denied this, arguing that what the Police found was a plastic bottle and a can of insecticide wrapped together with a power source to look like an IED.
In a statement, Onogwu Muhammed, the chief press secretary to the governor, said there was no bomb explosion recorded.
Muhammed, however, said there was a call to the police regarding an object which looked like an improvised explosive device (IED) around the fence of one of the ministries.
The Bomb Disposal Unit at the Nigerian Police Force Command located a minute away from the scene was immediately deployed to the area,” the statement reads.
“On arrival, they found out that it was a plastic bottle and a can of insecticide wrapped together with a power source to look like an IED. It was discovered to be a hoax and the object was removed by operatives of the Bomb Disposal Unit.
“However, there was no explosion around any government premises in Lokoja as reported by some media platforms.”
