BOMB SCARE IN NYSC CAMP, EBONYI

The Nation reports that there a major bomb scare at the camp ground of the Batch B stream two National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) in Ebonyi state during their passing out parade which led to the cancellation of the event.

The parade which was planned to take place at the Old McGregor College orientation camp, Afikpo, Afikpo North local government area of the state, but was called off when security operatives raised the alarm over suspected explosive device in the orientation camp.

The corp members and the directors were reportedly thrown into panic as they scampered for safety after the announcement was made. The hostels of the corp members and its surroundings were combed by the security operatives attached to the camp to see if they could discover where the device was hidden. While confirming the bomb scare in the state, chairman of NYSC governing board who doubles as the Ebonyi state commissioner for sports, Charles Akpuenika, said he got a call from a security agency in the state alerting him on the bomb scare.

The Nation reports that he was said to have immediately put a call through to the state governor, Chief Dave Umahi, who in turn, ordered that the terminal parade be called off.

According to Akpuenika:

I got a call from a security agency in the state that briefed me on what was happening at the camp ground and the panic the bomb scare created among corps members.
I immediately placed a call to the Governor; he ordered that the terminal parade be called off. The Governor is so interested in the safety every Ebonyi indigene and visitors to the State. He would not desire that anybody be hurt and that was why it was called off.
Actually, from the information I got from the security agency, a cable allegedly usually used to construct bomb was discovered by the security agency at the camp ground.
The cable has been taken by the Anti Bomb Squad and I believe that they would be in a better position to inform us if the cable was actually intended to be used by some miscreants to construct bomb in the area.
Ebonyi is a safe ground for visitors, there has never been any fear of terror attack in the state and we don’t hope to have one. People should feel free to come to the state and there security is assured.

While also confirming their suspicion, a Corps member who spoke to The Nation in confidence, informed that some unknown faces were seen coming into the camp ground during the camp fire night.

Meanwhile, the federal government has given employment letters to 173 ex-corps members for appointment into ministries in the civil service for distinguishing themselves during their service year.