Police nab two suspects over Abuja multiple blasts

The Police have arrested two “terror elements” suspected to have carried out the multiple bomb explosions that rocked the Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja. The simultaneous explosions, which occurred on October 2, claimed about 20 people, with many others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja at a strategic meeting with senior police officers. He stated that one of the items for discussion at the conference, was the
forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states. Arase said the arrest of the two suspects from Kogi State – Abdulazeez Muhazab and Isiaka Salihu – foiled another planned attack on the FCT, as 12 already prepared and primed explosives, were found on them upon arrest.
According to him, the primed explosive devices were packed in soft drink cans and other improvised explosive device-making materials. Arase further disclosed that five of the eight-man kidnap gang that abducted a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae, from his farm in Ondo State, have been arrested.
This position, however, conflicts with that of the Department of State Services (DSS), which had, at a press briefing in Abuja on October 12, paraded two of what it said was a three-man gang, that kidnapped Falae. On the abduction of Falae, the IGP said: “I can confirm that the police have succeeded in arresting five of the eight-man gang that participated in the crime.
Those arrested include Abubakar Auta, Idris Lawan, Umar Ibrahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Bello Tanu. “The suspects, who operate a state-wide kidnap ring, were arrested at their hideout in Niger, Ekiti and Ondo states, respectively. “Items recovered from them include the Bajaj Motorcycle used to transport the victim, cash sum of N823,990, which was part of the ransom allegedly received.
“All the arrested suspects have made confessional statements highlighting details of the operations and their individual roles. “As I address you now, the suspects are being charged to court in Akure, Ondo State.” When asked to clarify on the contradiction arising from the position of the DSS, Arase explained that the two suspects arrested by the DSS, are part of the eight-man gang. He said he had already spoken with the Director General of the DSS, Mr. Lawal Daura, adding that once the suspects were made available to the Police, the Force will amend the existing charge.
On the conference, the Police chief said it was meant to “strengthen professional interaction and encourage in-house peer review mechanism, evaluate the national security dynamics and review our preparations towards the gubernatorial elections scheduled for November 21 in Kogi State and December 5 in Bayelsa State.”

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