Ebonyi NYSC cancels terminal parade over bomb scare

The Terminal parade for the 2015 Batch B stream two National Youth Service Corp, (NYSC) members deployed to Ebonyi State was Wednesday put off following a bomb scare at the camp ground.

The parade was expected to take place at the Old McGregor College orientation camp Afikpo, Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state

The Nation gathered that there was panic and tension at the camp ground when security operative raised the alarm of suspected explosive device in the orientation camp which prompted corps members and officials of the scheme to scamper for safety.

The security operative attached to the camp ground combed the hostels of the corp members looking for a possible place the device was hidden.

Sources close to the State Secretariat office of the National Youth Service Corps informed our reporter that the scheme has concluded plans for the terminal parade when the rumor of the alleged discovery of the explosive device filtered in.

A Corps members who spoke to The Nation in confidence stated that their apprehension was heightened when some unknown faces were seen coming into the camp ground during the camp fire night.

Following reports by some corps members that unknown faces were seen entering Aso Rock Hostel, the security operatives had to search thoroughly for the device in the hostels.

As the panic raged in the camp ground, the leadership of the scheme hurriedly distributed posting letters to the corps members to the area of their primary assignment.

Spokesman, ASP George Okafor who confirmed the development said that the camp ground was safe as no bomb device was found by the Anti bomb Squad deployed to the orientation camp.

He disclosed that a cable was found at the camp ground adding that the Anti bomb Squad has recovered the cable and would soon come out with its report.

He noted that security has been beefed up in the camp ground ahead of the posting of another batch of corp members.

Chairman of NYSC governing board who is also the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Sports, Hon Charles Akpuenika said he got a call from a security agency in the state alerting him on the bomb scare.

He said he immediately communicated the State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi who ordered that the terminal parade be called off.

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Hon Akpuenika said; “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.”