Lagos bomb blast: Police recover more items from suspect’s home

Source: Punchng

By Olalekan Adetayo, Published: Thursday, 24 Dec 2009

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, has said that more incriminating items have been recovered from the residence of a suspect arrested in connection with Tuesday’s bomb explosion at the premises of Superscreen Television.

He also said that the suspect, who was said to be in a critical state at the Intensive Care Unit of an undisclosed government hospital, has been identified as Olayiwola Ahmed.

The 27-year-old suspect was injured when one of the parcels he took to the nine-storey building known as Logemo House at Onipanu Bus Stop on Ikorodu Road exploded shortly before delivering them to his targets.

Speaking with newsmen on the incident at the state police command headquarters, Ikeja GRA on Wednesday, Akpoyibo refused to disclose the nature of the items recovered from the suspect’s home, citing security reasons.

He said that the materials, which exploded on Tuesday, were suspected to be “Improvised Explosive Devices,” neatly wrapped in a Christmas gift pack.

He said that the command was determined to get to the root of the matter.

Akpoyibo warned Lagosians to be careful about acccepting wrapped gifts from strangers, particularly during the Yuletide.

He said, “We wish to re-assure Lagosians of their continued safety at all times. There is no cause for alarm. We wish to advise Lagosians to continue to be security conscious at all times.

“Citizens are advised to desist from storing inflammable materials like petroleum products in their homes as well as products with explosive tendencies such as fireworks.

”All suspicious characters should be reported to the police as soon as possible.”

He claimed that the premises had been certified safe and fit for normal business transactions after operatives diffused two additional explosive devices recovered from the suspect.

But, our correspondent, who visited the scene on Wednesday, observed that the building was still relatively deserted.

Only members of staff of the television station, which occupies the last floor of the building, were seen at work. Policemen were still at the scene at the time of the visit.

Roadside traders, who hitherto displayed their wares around the building, had, however, fled.