Benin — PANDEMONIUM broke out at the Edo State House of Assembly on Monday when a bomb was discovered beside the complex, opposite the General Hospital mortuary.

Experts confirmed it to be an untimed bomb that could explode when ignited by fire.

The discovery was made after the day's sitting at about 2 p.m. by one of the policemen guarding the Assembly since the violence that accompanied the sack on February 22 of former Speaker Zakawanu Garuba and his former Deputy, Levis Aigbogun.

Workers ran helter shelter from their offices as police officers from the anti-bomb squad cordoned off the area while awaiting sand bags with which to detonate the bomb.

The sand bags would reduce the impact of the explosion.

The police team was led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations), Clem Adoda while Taiwo Akingbehin led a team from the anti-bomb squad.

None of the officers agreed to speak to journalists, who Adoda referred to the Commissioner of Police, Kachi Udeoji, or police Spokesman, Peter Ogboi.

A hand written report submitted to Adoda by Akingbehin indicated that the substance was an improvised explosive device stuffed into a Ragolis plastic water bottle.

The report said the object was made up of explosives and other accessories capable of sending shock waves to 500 metres from the spot of detonation, which fragmentation could cause mass destruction.

If the bomb had detonated the impact could have affected part of the National Museum less than 500 metres away from the Assembly gate.

The bomb was discovered a few minutes after the Assembly resumed sitting with new Speaker Bright Omokhodion presiding.

No Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker attended, but some of their aides were seen in the Assembly complex.

The Assembly passed a resolution that Governor Adams Oshiomhole should set up an enquiry into the fire incident at the secretariat of Etsako West Council.

The resolution noted that the fire did not come by accident since some people saw kerosene and match boxes with which the place was set ablaze.

It added: "The security apparatus and agencies should be on double alert to check the tendencies of arsonists, they should strengthen their vigilance over public properties, especially government properties like the State House of Assembly where some people are inclined towards wanton destruction.

"We will be able to, in due course, strengthen our security here and ensure that miscreants and never do wells don't have their way."

The lawmakers urged the state government to prosecute those arrested over the fire outbreak at the Assembly.

Omokhodion told reporters after the session that the seats of PDP members may be declared vacant if they continue to stay away from the Assembly.

Back on the bomb scare, Information and Orientation Commissioner, Anselm Ojezua, said the incident exposes the depth to which mischief makers can descend in order to achieve their inordinate political interests.

According to him, this and similar incidents across the state confirm security reports that some people are bent on making the state ungovernable as a result of the reversal of their political fortunes.

"These acts of violence and arson represent some desperate attempt by the Dan Orbih-led faction of the PDP to undermine the security of the state, cause mayhem and intimidate the good people of Edo State.

"The puerile objective is to hope for an eventual declaration of a state of emergency in an otherwise peaceful state, which has recorded tremendous and unprecedented progress on all fronts beyond their imagination," Ojezua added.

"This evinces the extent to which those who do not want the state to move forward beyond the PDP's 10 years of retrogression can go to achieve their selfish objective. The Edo people are clearly not with them on this."

He warned mischief makers to desist from these nefarious acts because the government will not allow "terrorists" to disturb the peace of the state.

The government will do everything within its resources to unmask the perpetrators of these "wicked and evil acts" and ensure they are brought to book, he pledged.