Boko Bombs in Lagos: Two terror suspects arrested in Lagos

THERE was confusion early Thursday morning as men of the State Security Services and millitary officials  recovered some explosives in Ijora Badia area of Lagos State.

Two people, one suspected to be a Chadian, were arrested and whisked away to Abuja by men of the State Security Service.

A source informed the Nigerian Tribune that the arrested suspects had packed unconfirmed number of explosives in bags, which were carefully kept in the ceiling of their house.

Another resident, who pleaded anonymity, while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune said that “some SSS men and policemen came to our area early this morning and recovered some bombs.”

The residents added that “those who are close to the house said that the bombs were packed in some bags and kept in the ceiling  of one of the houses in the area.”

The security officials also reportedly recovered two A K 47 riffles from the building, which were also taken with them to Abuja. The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the suspected owner of the house had, about one month ago, let out the apartment to the suspects.

The recovery of the explosives instantly created panic among residents of Ijora Badia, with most of them apprehensive that there could be more bombs in the community.

When contacted, the image-maker of the state police command, Ngozi Braide denied being aware of any explosives recovered in Lagos.

The monarch of the area, Oba Fatai Ojora, while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune said that he had begun investigations into the incident and that efforts were on to identify the owner of the house.

Director, Armed Forces Public Relations, Brigadier Ibrahim Atahiru says the story is doubtful. Nigerian Tribune

WATER-TIGHT security is now being mounted in all the six states of the South-West zone of the country amidst tension following Thursday’s arrest in Lagos of a Chadian and another suspect, believed to be members of the dreaded Islamic set, Boko Haram. The suspects were arrested with bombs, arms and ammunition following a tip-off in a joint operation of the military and the State Security Service (SSS).

An impeccable Source told the Saturday Tribune in Abuja on Friday that the security measure became necessary following intelligence reports that the sect planned to launch attacks on some major towns in the zone.

The SSS had, last month, arrested a middle-aged man who was charged with the responsibility of recruiting and training would-be members of the Boko Haram sect in the South-West, with emphasis on Lagos and its environs.

The suspect, who was said to have connections with Iranian terrorist groups and was also to establish cells for the group in the zone, had succeeded in recruiting some followers before he was apprehended, along with four others, who were later paraded before newsmen.

Thursday’s operations at the Ijora Badiya, Lagos Mainland in Lagos, accordingly to the source, was part of efforts being made by the SSS in conjunction with other security agencies to checkmate the activities of the sect from spreading to the South-West because of its political, social and economic implications on the country in general.

“We are on top of the situation; there is no cause for any fear. We have been on the trail of the sect since last year. We learnt that they wanted to establish cells in Lagos for coordinated attacks on public places and some very important individuals in the society. We monitored them and we got one suspect arrested and he later confessed. Since then, we have been on our toes,” a very senior security operative told Saturday Tribune on Friday.