Residents of Alkali Street off Ekenwan road in Benin yesterday deserted their homes following the discovery of three bombs left in an abandoned building. Soldiers and police later detonated the bombs after residents were evacuated to safety.

The discovery of the bombs is second this month after a bomb factory was mistakenly uncovered at Okpella in Estako East local government area. It was learnt that the bombs were to be used to blow up ATM machines by an armed robbery gang.

Those who witnessed the evacuation said one of the bombs shook many buildings in the area. Some of the residents who spoke said they were surprised when security personnel asked them to leave their houses. Mrs. Rametu Ineruwa said people were sent out of their houses to stay at a distance. “We were surprised when policemen and soldiers came to this area and found some bombs in that building. They asked everybody to go out,” she said.

Another witness, Kate Obazee, said the explosion from one of the device caused panic among them even after the police have defused it.

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, said the bombs were recovered and detonated. He said investigations revealed that the bombs were to be used by an armed robbery gang to blow up an ATM machine as well as rob a commercial bank.

(LEADERSHIP)