Bomb scare: Markets shut, reopened in Abuja

BOMB scare, on Tuesday, caused confusion and temporary closure of markets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), notably the Garki modern market.

Trouble started when some traders at the market raised the alarm that improvised explosive devices had been planted in one of the shops.

News of the explosion instantly spread like wild fire, prompting traders to swiftly relocate their goods.

Timely arrival of policemen from FCT police command and Garki divisional police station, however, doused the tension.


The officers cordoned off the area and men of the anti-bomb unit were invited to scout for possible explosives.

A trader, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity, confirmed the confusion in the market.

“When I got to the market, I saw that some places were deserted and I was told that some people had planted bomb in the area and police around the market asked us to move out of the premises so as to lock the main entrance for security reasons. I believed when I saw policemen there,” he said.

The Public Relations Officer of FCT police command, Altine Daniel, later stated that there was no bomb in the market.

“We have moved in there and it was just a security check that some people misunderstood, but the markets have been reopened and people have gone back to their normal businesses,” he said.