The Ondo State Police Command says it has foiled an attempted attack on government infrastructure allegedly planned by suspected criminals using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Akure and other parts of the state.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing at the state police headquarters in Akure.
Lawal said the suspects were reportedly tracked after intelligence indicated that they had infiltrated the state and conducted surveillance on targeted locations ahead of the planned attacks. He added that operatives were immediately deployed to the identified areas following the tip-off.
According to him, the suspects were arrested before the plot could be executed. The operation led to the arrest of six individuals and the recovery of materials suspected to be components used in the fabrication of explosive devices.
The suspects were identified as Adekunle Prosper (56), Ojo Olumide (39), Tope Kolawole (40), Ahmed Salihu (40), Bolaji Adebowale (46), and Gbadebo Abidemi (43).
Lawal stated that a search of the scene and a follow-up operation at the suspects’ residence resulted in the recovery of several items, including 217 bottles, a bag of sugar, suspected criminal charms, 17 mobile phones, ₦187,000 in cash, two HP laptops, eight slings, a knife, an external hard drive, two identity cards, a National Identity Number (NIN) card, and two motorcycles.
He noted that preliminary investigations suggested that some of the recovered materials were intended for the construction of IEDs, while others were allegedly meant to support coordinated criminal activities.
“Early findings from the investigation reveal that the group actively engaged in assembling IEDs allegedly intended for deployment on government infrastructures, with indications that their operations may extend beyond the state capital to other parts of the country,” he said.
The police said investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the suspects’ activities and possible collaborators.
