Police foil bomb attack on Abuja Catholic school
The men of the bomb disposal units of the Nigeria Police on
Thursday foiled a bomb attack on St. Alloysius Schools, Area 3, Garki,
Abuja.
A security man, who briefed the Head Teacher of the schools, Sister
Philomena Akem, said the item was planted under a mango tree near where
pupils buy biscuits and other items after school.
According to the security man, a woman who saw the bag became curious
and called the attention of the church security personnel to the
strange item.
He said when the security personnel found the object they in turn
called the policemen on duty at the St. Alloysius Catholic Arch Diocese
to the bomb.
He added that the policemen alerted the bomb disposal unit which came in to defuse the device.
It was learnt that the incident caused a serious panic among parents,
residents and passersby around the area while the police team cordoned
off the road to prevent access to the device during the operation to
defuse it.
The head teacher of the school, who was just arriving the school from
a meeting confirmed the disturbing incident to our correspondent.
She said one of her members of staff called her during to tell her about the incident.
She said the management of the school had alerted the Development
Control of the Federal Capital Territory on the need to close a portion
of the road where the vast Catholic Church and the schools are located.
She said the development had sent some of its personnel to the school
to take a look at the road in response to the school’s petition on
Wednesday.
Also, the Chairman of the Parents Teachers Association of the
Schoool, Dr. James Agbonhese confirmed the incident to our
correspondent.
He said the PTA and the Security Committee which comprises security
operatives were taking measures to strengthen security in the schools.
He was full of thanks to God that the device was discovered by the woman who quickly called attention to it.
