Police diffuse bomb in Jos building

Written by Daily Trust Friday, 23 July 2010

The Plateau State police bomb squad, yesterday, diffused a bomb found around a two-storey building at Nasarawa Gwom area in Jos North Local Government Area.

Briefing newsmen in his office, Police Commissioner Ikechukwu Ayo Aduba confirmed that the setting up of the bomb was to prevent one Alhaji Shu’aibu Usman from renovating his building in the area.

According to the commissioner, the attention of the command was drawn to the building when one Col. Ogundele called the officer in charge of the police anti-bomb squad to say that a building situated at No AC 13a Nasarawa Gwom had been surrounded with explosives by people yet to be known.

He added that on the strength of that information, a team of experts led by ASP Abel Mbibi in conjunction with the police Tiger Patrol and the army moved to the scene. The Explosives Ordinance Disposal (EOD) experts approached revealed that a two-storey building was booby-trapped with high explosives, he said.

According to the commissioner who described the incident as a major set-back to the peace building process, “The bomb experts swung into action, de-booby trapped the building, diffused the explosive charges, recovered same and rendered both the building and the environs bomb-free. If the bomb blast had occurred it would have been a major catastrophe”.

He added that the building was not blown up by explosives or bombed as earlier reported, rather, it had signs of an earlier fire outbreak.

“No lives were lost, no property damaged and for now no arrest have been made, the people of the area have been advised to go about their normal businesses and report to security agencies any suspicious movement around their area”, the commissioner added.

Aduba also said, “You would recall that the state government took a decision that those who were affected by the crisis should go back and renovate their houses. I don’t know why some people are bringing us back”. Also briefing the press at the state police command, ASP Abel Mbibi who led the anti-bomb experts said the bomb they diffused is referred to as “Gellemone Explosives“ which is in the class of dynamites would have caused multiple charge explosives leading to heavy casualties.

ASP Mbibi urged residents of the area to go about their normal businesses as the anti-bomb squad had mounted a 200 metres radius to ensure that the area is safe.

Meanwhile, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Ikechukwu Ayo Aduba, has confirmed that two persons were killed Wednesday when an upheaval erupted following the burial of the victims of Mazah village who were laid to rest in Jos. Aduba said the corpses of the victims were recovered around Zololo area in Bauchi Road and the command had now noted the major areas where the youths are bringing problems. He therefore appealed to ward heads, traditional rulers as well as parents to call their children to order, stressing that the command would not take it lightly with anyone who threatens peace in the state.

He also confirmed that a Fulani man was handed over to the command in connection with the Mazah killings as police continue investigation in the matter.