PORT HARCOURT - A bomb threat called in to a Nigerian actress's mobile phone on Wednesday prompted panic on a flight before takeoff, but no explosives were found after the plane was evacuated.
The emergency evacuation in the oil city of Port Harcourt was ordered after the actress received a call warning her that explosives had been planted on the aircraft carrying 98 passengers and would go off mid-air.
Hilda Dokubo, the actress, told AFP she was phoned by an unknown caller who "asked me and other passengers to immediately disembark because the aircraft was infused with explosive devices that would explode when we're airborne."
"So I immediately raised an alarm," said the actress who has featured in movies including "Dangerous Affair" and "Passionate Evil" produced by Nigeria's film industry, known as Nollywood.
"I shouted that people should go out, that this aircraft has a bomb. So people started shouting 'blood of Jesus! blood of Jesus!'."
Victor Arisa, a spokesman for Nigeria's airports authority, said police combed the aircraft, which was to fly to Lagos, and found nothing.
Police spokeswoman Rita Inoma-Abbey confirmed the incident, saying the plane was screened and no explosives were found.
The aircraft belonging to Arik Air, Nigeria's largest privately owned airline, was grounded and passengers were flown out on an alternative one.
The run up to next month's elections has raised tensions following bomb attacks at political meetings.
Militant group MEND in the oil-rich Niger Delta, whose largest city is Port Harcourt, this week warned of renewed attacks on oil facilities and political rallies.
A blast rocked a facility run by energy firm Agip in the Delta on Tuesday night, a security source said.
The emergency evacuation in the oil city of Port Harcourt was ordered after the actress received a call warning her that explosives had been planted on the aircraft carrying 98 passengers and would go off mid-air.
Hilda Dokubo, the actress, told AFP she was phoned by an unknown caller who "asked me and other passengers to immediately disembark because the aircraft was infused with explosive devices that would explode when we're airborne."
"So I immediately raised an alarm," said the actress who has featured in movies including "Dangerous Affair" and "Passionate Evil" produced by Nigeria's film industry, known as Nollywood.
"I shouted that people should go out, that this aircraft has a bomb. So people started shouting 'blood of Jesus! blood of Jesus!'."
Victor Arisa, a spokesman for Nigeria's airports authority, said police combed the aircraft, which was to fly to Lagos, and found nothing.
Police spokeswoman Rita Inoma-Abbey confirmed the incident, saying the plane was screened and no explosives were found.
The aircraft belonging to Arik Air, Nigeria's largest privately owned airline, was grounded and passengers were flown out on an alternative one.
The run up to next month's elections has raised tensions following bomb attacks at political meetings.
Militant group MEND in the oil-rich Niger Delta, whose largest city is Port Harcourt, this week warned of renewed attacks on oil facilities and political rallies.
A blast rocked a facility run by energy firm Agip in the Delta on Tuesday night, a security source said.
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