Bomb Scare Hits Shell Office in Lagos

Oct 1st, 2011 – There was pandemonium at the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) office  on Broad Street Marina, Lagos on Friday when there was an alleged bomb threat at its Freeman Annex office.

Eyewitnesses said a security guard at the SPDC office raised the alarm of a bomb and there ensued panic as staff and visitors made for safety.

Other offices close to the SPDC were not left out of the chaos as staff of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation, one of the closest offices to the  SPDC, also tried to get away from the confusion.

The incident which occurred at about 12.30pm forced  the offices to quickly evacuate frightened their staff and visitors and lock down their entrances.

Officers of the Lagos State Anti-Bomb Squad  arrived the scene with their van and other gadgets and they cordoned off the building. The officers searched the SPDC  building for explosives but to no avail.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police Anti-Bomb Squad, Mr. Ambrose Aisabor confirmed that the anti-bomb squad  received a distress call.

“It was a security guard from the SPDC who made the call to my office about a bomb threat at the SPDC. Immediately, I dispatched a team to the scene and a thorough search was made for

bombs or any other explosive devices,” Aisabor said. “Nothing was found. I cannot say exactly how the security guard must have got his information because I tried to call back severally after I learned the SPDC office had been certified clean but my calls never went through.”

Aisabor took the opportunity to  warn members of the public to desist from spreading rumours and called on them to remain calm in the face of the security challenges in the country.

“There is no need for anyone to cause panic by spreading false rumours,” he said. “If someone truly thinks there is an explosive device planted in any building, just call my office and a team will be dispatched immediately. It is not right that so much panic should be caused by mere rumours.”

In a related development, the Lagos State police command has commanded all its officers to be on full alert during the celebration of the 51st anniversary of the Nation’s independence.

Police officers and other security agents were seen carrying out the joint operation of cordoning off areas around the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos.

The commissioner of police in Lagos gave assurance that the officers would be on ground to provide maximum security in the state. He also called on residents and visitors in the state to exercise restraint during the celebration as the command has heightened the security in the state to forestall the break down of law and order.