Bomb scare at National Assembly

There was pandemonium yesterday at the National Assembly. Senators, Representatives and workers scampered for safety, following a rumour that a Boko Haram attack was imminent.

Though there were conflicting reports of exactly what was amiss, the National Assembly complex was deserted within minutes of an alleged security alert.

The news spread like bush fire that the sect was set to detonate bombs at the National Assembly complex around 4pm yesterday.

There was panic. Many kept running – to nowhere.

Lawmakers rushed out of their offices, fleeing the National Assembly complex.

Thousands of workers streamed down the central exit of the main National Assembly complex in a desperate bid to escape the alleged imminent doom.

In the House of Representatives wing of the complex, it was no less chaotic as lawmakers and workers abandoned their offices.

It was particularly chaotic around the elevators where lawmakers and workers clustered to exit the complex.

Some who were too panicky and could not wait for the elevator raced down the stairs to make good their escape.

A particular member of the House leadership from Kano State raced down the stairs from the fourth floor of the new building in company of six other lawmakers, after waiting in vain for the elevator.

At the Senate wing, there was a rush for the exit.

Banks operating within the complex speedily closed their doors.

The situation caused a traffic gridlock at the entrances of the National Assembly as hundreds of cars attempted to flee the complex at the same time.

Workers without cars walked briskly towards the main gate, looking exhausted.

A Senator retorted while making his exit: “In these days of Boko Haram, nothing should be taken for granted, especially when we are all living witnesses to the deadly blow at the United Nations building here in Abuja.”

“If you hear ‘move’ you should hit the ground running in your own interest.”

But the Sergeant At-Arms, Col. Emmanuel Okere, dismissed it all as a ruse.

Okere said: “I don’t know what is causing people to panic. People should be law abiding and go about their business. There was no explosion anywhere. I have radioed all units and there was nothing like explosion anywhere.

“It is like somebody raised the panic and everybody was running. It is the Nigerian mentality.”-The Nation