Fear has gripped the marketers at the popular Ophoke-Abba market, Kpiri-Kpiri in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, over an object suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was discovered at the market on Monday.
Report of the suspected IED sent the traders, payers, and passers-by in the market running for their dear lives.
The incident which occurred around 4 p.m on Monday forced the market to close before the usual 6 p.m closing time.
As published by PremiumTimes, a trader in the market, Mr. Onwe, said that the incident can be likened to a war.
He said, “People suddenly started running and shouting ‘bomb! bomb!!’, that a bomb had been planted by unknown people in the market.
“Within seconds, the news had gone around the entire market and people were running helter-skelter, while children were crying.
“I managed to pack my wares, lock my shop, and run out of the market.”
Another eyewitness, Edith Agu added that the incident caused to a commotion at the market.
Agu said many left their goods and run for their dear lives.
“The entire market was thrown into pandemonium as people ran spontaneously out of the market.”
The incident had been confirmed by the authority through its spokesperson in the state, Loveth Odah.
Odah said that the police deployed an anti-bomb squad to the market.
She said, “The divisional police officer in charge of the area received information that a substance was discovered at a shop in the market and he went to the area with officials of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) of the Nigeria Police.
“The substance suspected to be an explosive has been evacuated and taken to the office for expert analysis. For now, we don’t know what the substance is until after careful investigation.”
