Reports say that the Nigerian police on Wednesday night discovered and defused two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted at a popular eatery located around the Ikenegbu area of Owerri.

Nigeria Telegraph reports that the anti-bomb squad of the Imo state police command on getting the news, arrived the scene and after several hours of probing, confirmed there was an IED capable of causing serious damage to lives and property in the area.

The explosives were hidden in air condition units at the lobby and the kitchen close to gigantic gas cylinders in Kilimanjaro fast food.

The Police Commissioner, Abdulmajid Ali, told journalists at the scene: “We received a call about 21.30 hours that bombs were uncovered at Kilmanjaro Fast Food. Men of the Bomb Disposal Unit moved in, discovered the explosives and defused them.”

The commissioner dismissed rumours making the rounds in the city that the explosives were planted by terrorists. He said  the manager of the eatery, who alerted the police, was called by unknown persons, demanding millions of naira, saying they had planted explosives on the premises and would detonate them if he did not meet their demand.

He said: “It was not a terrorists’ attack because Boko Haram insurgents will not demand money. We are investigating the incident.”

Ali therefore urged the residents to be calm, assuring them of adequate security by the police would especially during the Yuletide.

Credit: naij.com