Boko Haram
700 bombs intercepted in Abuja
From MOLLY KILETE, ABUJA
Friday, July 15, 2011


•
Photo: THE SUN PUBLISHING
More Stories on This Section

A security alert was triggered last night as soldiers intercepted a truck conveying no fewer than 700 explosives in Abuja.
Daily Sun gathered that the vehicle escorted by two unarmed policemen was intercepted at the Abuja City Gate at about 8.00 p.m.
The serving policemen had successfully beaten all security checkpoints at all the entry points into the Federal Capital Territory with their deadly consignment until they got to Lugbe on the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Road, where soldiers on routine duty stopped them.

It was gathered that the soldiers demanded to know what was in the truck and ordered the policemen to alight.
The policemen were said to have refused the order, insisting they were doing the same kind of work with the soldiers.
The soldiers, it was further learnt, insisted on searching the truck and found the explosives packed in 700 cartons.
Commander, Brigade of Guards was promptly alerted to the discovery and he dispatched a team of soldiers to arrest the policemen.

The policemen were whisked to the Mambilla Barracks where, it was gathered, they were being detained.
Daily Sun further gathered that the Brigade Commander informed the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim who rushed to the Barracks and confirmed that the policemen were not fake. He also ordered that they be kept in the custody of the military.

As at the time of filing this report at about midnight, the Director of the State Security Services (SSS) and other top security chiefs had visited the Mambilla Barracks to inspect the explosives.
The arrest immediately sparked a wave of security activities, including the deployment of soldiers in various parts of the Federal Capital Territory as well as government establishments.
It could not be immediately ascertained the source of the explosives and where it was coming from.
Only on Wednesday, the Islamist group, Boko Haram, which had been terrorizing the country revealed that it was planning to attack the Aso Villa, the seat of the Presidency in Abuja.