By Evelyn Usman & Godfrey Bibvere

LAGOS – The Seme border area of Lagos State, was, Monday, thrown into panic, following report of a time bomb planted in the area.

During the resultant stampede, several persons, among them security personnel and traders, sustained varying degree of injuries.

It was gathered that a security operative at the border raised alarm on discovering the substance, which was dumped by an unknown person.

Thereafter, rumour went round the area that members of the Boko Haram sect  had sneaked into the state, consequent upon which text messages were sent to loved ones, particularly those who had businesses in the border to avoid the area.

A team of policemen from Anti-Bomb Squad later arrived the area and took the purported combustive substance away for inspection.

Vanguard gathered that at about 6.25 pm, the test conducted by the bomb experts showed that it was not a bomb after all. Sources at the anti-bomb squad gave the name of the substance as HOASS.

Contacted, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Josephe Jaiyeoba, said he was unaware of the incident. But his Customs counterpart at the Seme border, Mr Ernest Olota confirmed that there was bomb scare. Olota explained that his office had to place a call to the officer in charge of  Anti Bomb Squad, who removed the substance for check.

Following the incident, security was beefed up at the border as searches were conducted on everyone leaving or coming into the country.