Lagos — WARRI was still in jitters on Tuesday, 24 hours after two bombs exploded around the venue of a post-amnesty talk shop, scattered the guests, and led to the death of four people not connected with the event.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which planted the explosives, said it is saving the third bomb that did not explode for any other post amnesty conference.

Part of its grouse is that such summits produce nothing but words and words without concrete action.

"Three such bombs of varying strength were planted at this venue. It was unnecessary to detonate the third and most powerful bomb as our operatives noticed the participants at this jamboree fled towards the direction of the last bomb," MEND Spokesman, Gbomo Jomo, said in a statement.

"Any attempt to detonate this bomb would have resulted in great loss of life. This bomb is being preserved for future use. All who participated in this operation, safely returned to their respective bases."

But Pat Utomi of the Lagos Business School argued that the initiative was ill-advised.

"There was either an attempt to send a signal or disrupt or whatever but the most important thing is that there was ulterior dimension in form of an explosive device.

"I don't know the motive but I don't think the motive was not to hurt. If the motive is just to send a signal, the conference would have convened again.

"That is the signal it has just sent that Warri is not safe, even though it has been peaceful for a very long time. It is very unfortunate," he said.

The Senate will deliberate on it today, according to its Spokesman, Ayogu Eze, who said the Chamber "is distressed enough to have admitted it as an emergency item to be taken as a matter of urgent national importance because we believe it is a very serious matter."

Eze spoke in Abuja as Acting President Goodluck Jonathan directed all government agencies involved in the post-amnesty programme to hasten the rehabilitation phase.

Jonathan gave the order in the Villa during a meeting of the officials and agencies that are part of the Presidential Amnesty Committee (PAC).

His Spokesman, Ima Niboro, told reporters that further talks will be held next week with Governors and other stakeholders vital to the success of the amnesty programme.

He said the bomb blasts will not hinder the amnesty scheme, noting that dialogue has always been part of it.

On the demand from the MEND for quicker action, Niboro retorted: "Well, they want action, and we also want action. There is a meeting next week."

Roads in Warri and Effurun were clogged on Tuesday as security agents mounted checks on vehicles.

Assistant Inspector General of Police (Zone 5, Benin), M. D Abubakar, deployed bomb experts and bomb detection equipment to clear the scene of the blasts.

Police Public Relations Officer, Charles Muka, said the experts have done a thorough job, and the investigation continues.

Adetutu Folasade-Koyi, Chesa Chesa (abuja), Harris-Okon Emmanuel (warri)michael Jegede