By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA – There was palpable tension at the Ministry of Justice complex situated at the Central Business District of Abuja,Thursday, following an alleged tip-off by persons suspected to be members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, warning that series of bombs that had been planted in the building would be detonated within the vicinity.

Though it was gathered that the anonymous informant hinted that the first bomb would go off at the Bayelsa State House which is a stone throw from the Ministry of Justice complex, he however, warned that workers at the ministry should vacate the premises immediately, insisting that the high powered explosives, he said were laid around the area, might occasion large number of casualties if the warning was not heeded.

Barely few minutes after the rumour filtered in at about 11a.m. yesterday, pandemonium broke out at both the Justice Ministry and its neighbouring buildings, as workers scampered for their dear lives.

The Federal Ministry of Justice Complex, Thursday in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan

When Vanguard visited the area at about mid-day, the story was still the same, as almost all the rooms at the Ministry of Justice and their windows remained open owing to the inability of its occupants to spare any time to close them before dashing off.

Though it was not confirmed at press time whether the Minster of Justice, Mohammed Adoke Bello, was on seat when the incident took place, an eyewitness account, however, said  the AGF drove off immediately the bomb rumours thickened.

It was not until 12: 38 p.m. that the anti-bomb squad arrived the scene with a vehicle marked NPF 302 C, hours after the FCT Assistant Commissioner of Police, Odukoya Sunday, who had arrived the scene much earlier, led a team of policemen to cordon-off the entire vicinity.

At the end of their mission at about 4: 36 p.m, nothing was found in either location to connote any form of bomb threat.

Briefing newsmen after the futile search, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, implored Nigerians to disabuse their minds from such rumours, which he said, were being peddled by some unscrupulous persons in their uncanny bid to create unnecessary tension in the polity.