There was a mild drama at the INEC office in Awka, South-eastern part of Nigeria yesterday after reports emerged that it has been rigged with mines.
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There were rumours of bomb scare at the Anambra headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following alleged discovery of a substance which looked like an improvised explosive device (IED).
A source who pleaded not to be named told DAILY POST that the device was detected by men of the anti-bomb squad of the Nigeria Police Force who combed the entire compound very early on Monday morning.
A source said, “It was early this morning that I was trying to use that road, when police condoned it off. We were told that they found a device that looked like a bomb and had to stop everyone to so that they can diffuse the device.
Consequently, security has been beefed up at the premises. When a reporter visited the compound, hordes of security operatives were seen, while visitors were subjected to full identification before entry.
The resident electoral commissioner REC, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, in his reaction said no bomb was detected. He, however, admitted that a substance was picked outside the compound and could have been dropped by anyone.
Orji added that it was the duty of the police to verify the object. State police public relations officer, Princess Nkeiruka Nwode, said she was not aware of the discovery.
She recalled that she stayed late into the night at INEC and was not privy to such. Asked to comment on influx of bomb disposal unit experts at the INEC office, Nwode said it was part of preparations for the Saturday governorship election.
CP Umar Garba pleaded to call back when a correspondent reached him on phone.
He was yet to do so as at the time of filing this report.