Security men arrest UNIUYO student with hand grenades

The operatives of Peace on Campus Initiative have arrested a diploma student of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Kufre Anwana, following the discovery of two improvised explosive devices in the institution male hostel.

It was learnt that the two improvised explosive devices, speculated as hand grenades, were found in a bag that belonged to the suspect by some students, who alerted the operatives of the PCI.

National Coordinator, PCI, Mr. Oliver Cromwell, said in Uyo on Monday that his men in the UNIUYO chapter got a tip-off that the suspect was keeping the explosive devices. He added that his men trailed him to his room in the male hostel.

Cromwell explained that his men, on discovering the explosive devices in a bag in the hostel room, apprehended the suspect and invited the anti-bomb squad of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command to the scene for verification.

He stated that the squad detonated the two improvised explosive devices and conducted a further search round the other hostel rooms.

A student of the institution, Mr. Emma Inyang, said the anti-bomb squad were invited to the scene to forestall any eventuality should the devices turn out to be bombs.

“The anti-bomb squad was invited to come and ascertain if the explosives were real. When they came, they confirmed that those things were hand grenades, adding that they were not locally made.”

Inyang stated that Anwana was not in the hostel at the time the explosives were uncovered, but was apprehended and interrogated when he later returned.

It was, however, gathered that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to keeping the explosives, but denied that he wanted to disrupting academic activities.

According to him, he stumbled on the explosive devices within the school premises, adding that he had planned to hand them over to the university’s security before he was nabbed.

Anwana said, “On Friday when I was coming back from the church, I saw two white things on the ground. When I picked them, I read the instruction that they were hand grenade.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Command, Mr. Etim Dickson, confirmed the incident.

He stated that the explosives were homemade devices, which could have been invented by any of the science students on the campus.

He said the police would get to the roots of the matter, urging students and parents not to entertain any fear about possible breakdown of law and order in the university community.

“The incident had been properly taken care of. We are on top of the situation.

“We urge all students and employees of the institution to go about their normal business.

“We shall get to the roots of the mater,” he said.

PUNCH