Customers Flee Victoria Island Shoprite Branch As Police Investigate Threat Text Message To Bomb Shop

The Lagos State Police Command, Thursday, said it had commenced investigation into threat by some unknown person to blow up Shoprite offices in the state.

An unknown person had sent a text message informing owner of Shoprite of his group’s intention to blow up all Shoprite shops in Nigeria.



Although the unknown sender did not state the reason, but he disclosed that already, members of his group had planted some explosives in some packs of fruit juice at Shoprite Victoria Island branch.

The text message caused panic as customers reportedly fled the entire mall while motorists deserted the route, with text messages sent to loved ones around the vicinity to avoid the route.

It was even rumoured that there was a bomb explosion around the area.

Part of the text message read: “It is true, we do not deserve amnesty. You’ll even be surprised how I got your number. We came to Shoprite on a mission to drop a bomb. That day, we sow bullet into Five Alive packs. We are from Niger. Someone gave us your number from Abuja. We will make sure we destroy every Shoprite…”

But sources at the Lagos State Police Command told said that investigation had begun to ascertain the identity of the sender. Although sources dismissed the text message as mere threat but said the command would still go ahead with its investigation.

Meanwhile, the multi-million naira shopping centre in Enugu capital city, Shoprite and operators of other business outfits within the complex, yesterday, locked up their shops for hours following the threat to bomb the complex.

The two major entrances to the complex were locked as early as 6 a.m. when reports of the bomb threat, allegedly circulated through text messages, got to the authorities.

Security operatives including mobile policemen and men of the Anti-Bomb Squad as well as private security men guarding the complex, prevented workers and customers from entering the premises as tension gripped residents of the area.

Some officials of the state government were seen within the premises talking with the senior managers of Shoprite on how to beef up security in the complex while operatives of the police Anti-Bomb unit were busy searching for explosives within the large complex.

When the search was completed and no explosive found, the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Abubakar Adamu Mohammed, who led some security chiefs to the complex, directed the workers to open their offices to customers at 12.30 p.m.

Even after the shops were opened, many customers and visitors, who were hanging  outside  for about four hours refused to move inside to make purchases until the police officers gave them a firm assurance that the complex was safe.

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