A bomb blast, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday in Jajere area of Maiduguri metropolis, destroyed a local block industry.An eyewitness, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on condition of anonymity, explained that the bomb was planted on the road from where it later exploded to hit the block industry.He, however, said nobody was killed or injured in the blast as it was very early in the morning and many residents were still indoors.The Operation Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State, Colonel Victor Ebhaleme, confirmed the incident, adding that security had been beefed up in the area.'The bomb was planted on the road and no life was lost nor injuries recorded in the explosion. It was only a local block industry in the area that was affected,' he said.He, however, reminded residents that the deadline for the submission of arms and ammunition remained Monday.Ebhaleme disclosed that some people had complied with the directive, saying that had led to the recovery of a large number of weapons by the JTF.The commander, however, warned that those who failed to submit dangerous weapons in their possession at the expiration of the deadline would be treated as criminals.Meanwhile, pandemonium broke out Saturday night at Akpakpava Street, the commercial nerve centre of Benin City, Edo State capital, following report of a bomb purportedly dropped in a black poly-thene bag around the area, where banks, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), are located.When the rumour did the rounds regarding the sighting of an object supposed to be bomb in a black polythene bag around 8.30 p.m, panicky motorists and pedestrians started seeking alternative routes as they scamper for safety.The development prompted security agents to cordone off the entire area, searching frantically with their detectors for any suspicious objects.As of Sunday afternoon, there was no word from security quarters whether or not they found any explosives, however, there was still strong presence of security agents in the area.It will be recalled that the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, in an online statement, had threatened to bomb the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and other institutions of higher education.The development caused many students and staff of the university scampering out of the campus for safety.When contacted, the acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Edo State police command, Ejiro Awharara, declined comment.Meanwhile, federal and state security operatives drafted to the venue of the kick-off campaign by the PDP governorship candidate, Captain Idris Wada, in Lokoja, on Saturday foiled a plot to bomb a part of the Lokoja stadium where the event was held, thereby averting a major disaster, the Nigerian Tribune can exclusively report.It was gathered that the news of the planned bombing of the rally ground, which featured the creme de la crme of the Kogi State politics, was, however, concealed by the state government, in order not to scare away enthusiastic PDP supporters from the venue.Some top security sources told the Nigerian Tribune in Lokoja that the mastermind of the plot would have succeeded in detonating bombs at the stadium, if not that one of those contracted made a slip, which security operatives around the stadium premises suspected while they grabbed him.A security source told the Tribune that investigations were still ongoing on the foiled attempt, noting that if any one had made an attempt to bomb the venue of the rally, such a person would have been apprehended due to the large presence of operatives in the area.The PDP governorship candidate, while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday, confirmed the issue of attempted bomb blast around the stadium, saying that the mastermind could have been from the opposition camp, with plan to derail the PDP rally.
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