BY BEN AGANDE

ABUJA-The pervasive fear of the Boko Haram sect came to the fore at the National Assembly Tuesday as hundreds of workers and legislators hurriedly left the National Assembly complex following rumours of a bomb scare.

But the Sergeant-at-arms who is in charge of security at the National Assembly dismissed the rumour as a non-issue, saying there was nothing of the sort, pointing out that people should go about their normal business.

Trouble began yesterday when a woman allegedly shouted ‘bus bus’ to attract the attention of the driver of a shuttle bus ferrying people from the entrance to the National Assembly to the main gate to wait for her and this was mistaken for ‘bomb’.

And to underscore the seriousness of the rumour, a meeting between the Ad Hoc committee of the House of Representatives investigating the concessioning of revenue collection at the ports with the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga was hurriedly called off by the Chairman, Hon Leo Ogor in what he described as a ‘precautionary measure’.

Though nobody could say for sure where the rumour of the bomb scare emanated from, hundreds of workers and visitors to the National Assembly hurriedly left their offices and were seen discussing the incidence in groups.

However, the Sergeant-at-arms, Col. Emeka Okere who spoke with newsmen yesterday said there was no need for the panic because there was no incidence of any bomb at the National Assembly.

According to him, “I do not know what is causing the panic. People should be law abiding and go about their normal business. I have contacted my men and there is no explosion any where. It is like somebody raised the alarm and every body began to panic,’ he said.

Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed told newsmen that there was no truth in the rumour and urged Nigerians to desist from spreading rumour.

The Deputy House leader Hon. Leo Ogor who was chairing a meeting of an Ad Hoc Committee with the Minister of Trade and Investment explained that he called off the meeting because ‘prevention is better than cure’.