Tensions were high at the Jabi area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on Thursday after a parcel, suspected to be an Improvised Explosives Device, IED, was found under the Jabi bridge, near Shoprite shopping mall, Abuja.
Security agencies, including the Anti-Bomb Squad of the Nigerian Police, were notified and they quickly arrived the area and cordoned off the access road to the bridge, while motorists were directed to follow alternative routes.
The bomb disposal unit however discovered that the parcel was a container which was reportedly forgotten under the bridge by members of the FCT Water Board.
It was gathered that the situation had return to normal and the road which was earlier blocked has been reopened to motorists.
An eye witness – a petty trader around the Jabi axis – told journalists that the container was abandoned by men of the water board on Wednesday.
She said, “The police found out that it was not a bomb as speculated. What happened was that someone saw the food cooler and informed the Shoprite security guards about it and they called the police who blocked the road and checked the container for bomb, but nothing was found in it.”
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Anjuguri Manzah, when contacted said he would get clearance from superior authorities before he could comment on the matter.