Fresh panic gripped residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria on Tuesday morning following fears that another attack by Boko Haram Islamist sect was in the offing.

The bomb blast rumour necessitated that massive security checkpoints and large deployment of policemen around two major markets in Wuse and the Garki area of the city.

Large police presence was observed at Wuse, Garki and Utako International Market.

The roads leading to the two markets were blocked by Policemen who were also conducting search on a long queue of persons waiting to gain access into the area.

Confused traders who were disallowed from going inside the market were seen milling about the premises.

It was gathered that Federal Capital Territory authorities ordered the popular Wuse Market, Utako and Garki Modern Markets shut following a bomb scare.

This, it was learnt, followed an alarm by a person who saw an object suspected to be Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The discovery of the suspicious object reportedly forced shop owners to close while shoppers took to their heels.

In reaction, authorities of FCT ordered the market and two others closed. Men of the police anti-bomb squad then combed the three markets for possible explosive devices.

One of the police officers said the Wuse market was locked after an ‘order from above’ due to bomb threat.

Boko Haram extremist group had bombed a bus station in the highly populated Nyanya suburb area of FCT twice in April this year. The bomb attacks claimed about 100 lives.

Altine Daniel, the spokesperson for the FCT Command of Nigeria Police confirmed that the temporary closure of the three markets was as a result of intelligence reports available to the security agencies.

She however said the markets would be reopened as soon as men of the police anti-bomb squad are satisfied that there was no explosive device hidden in any of them.