Nigeria Bomb Scare - There was pandemonium yesterday in the National Assembly as National Assembly members, workers as well as visitors scampered for safety following a rumoured attempt by the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram to attack the complex. Trouble started about 3.25 pm yesterday when dozens of workers fled their duty posts claiming that they received security alert that the Boko Haram was about to bomb the complex.

The source of the security alert was not immediately known but this did not prevent people, including lawmakers from abandoning the complex. People were seen rushing to the car park apparently to escape the rumoured attack yesterday by the same group which was reported to have earlier threatened to attack the complex.

The presence of dozens of armed security operatives earlier deployed to the complex did not also change things. Some of the security men also took to their heels yesterday as the rumoured attack spread like wide fire.

Even the prompt intervention of the chief security officer of the National Assembly Col. Emeka Okere did not change the mind of the workers as 'body want to suffer escape goat.

Col Okere in a move to alley the fears of the workers' said: "I don't know what is causing the people to panic. According to him' people should be law abiding and go on their normal business.

"There was no explosion any where, there was nothing like that, it's like some body had raised the panic. This is Nigerian mentality".

But all plea yesterday by the Sergeant-at -arm to workers to go back to their duty post fell on deaf ears as thousands of them deserted the complex for safety. There was heavy vehicle and human traffic as many of the fleeing workers hit the exit road almost at the same time to escape possible attack.

It would be recalled that the National Assembly was two weeks ago, hit by another bomb scare. Some armed security operatives believe to be members of the State Security Services (SSS) had earlier taken over the multi billion naira complex.

Some of the workers who resumed work on the said day hurriedly abandoned their duty post following a renewed fear of possible attack on the National Assembly by the dreaded Islamic sect Boko Haram.

It was the same at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC), the International Conference centre Abuja as soldiers man the strategic public buildings.

Two fire fighting brigade (tank) arrived yesterday at the National Assembly as the rumour on the planned attack on the complex by Boko Haram thickened.

The fire fighting team came shortly after some plain cloth security operatives believed to members of SSS had returned to the complex.

Cosmos Ekpunobi And Edekunle Adesuji

Daily Champion/21/09/2011