The Niger State Police Command has successfully uncovered and neutralized a significant cache of explosive devices, including bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), buried in various locations across the state. This discovery follows an ongoing investigation into the origins of these devices, which are suspected to have been concealed by terrorists and bandits responsible for violence in the region.
The explosives were found in several local governments within the state, including Galadima-Kogo in Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA), Mutun-Daya in Munya LGA, and the Gbeganu area of Minna. The revelation was made by the Command’s spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement issued on Tuesday.
According to Abiodun, the discovery was part of extensive counter-insurgency operations conducted between 2021 and 2023, involving collaboration between the police and other security agencies. The recovered items were successfully neutralized on August 22, 2024, at a site behind Zuma Rock in Suleja, under the supervision of SP Mohammed Mamun, the Officer in Charge of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Unit of the Command.
The statement detailed the items recovered and their locations:
- Four pipe-borne IEDs buried underground, found at Galadima-Kogo, Shiroro LGA, on September 27, 2021.
- Explosives concealed in empty shells of suspected military missiles and a 5kg cooking gas cylinder, recovered at Mutun-Daya, Shiroro LGA, on February 11, 2022.
- Explosives hidden in a ten-litre jerrican, three suspected military hand grenades, and a bow-shaped improvised device, discovered at the Gbeganu area of Minna on October 24, 2023.
The destruction of these explosives was carried out on August 22, 2024, at a secure location behind Zuma Rock, Suleja. SP Mohammed Mamun led the operation to ensure the safe disposal of the hazardous materials.
Abiodun also noted that this operation follows a recent attack by suspected bandits that resulted in the deaths of at least 13 farmers in the state. He highlighted the significance of these findings, especially given that Galadima-Kogo was the site of a devastating bomb explosion in 2022, which led to the tragic deaths of officers from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The successful neutralization of these explosives underscores the ongoing efforts of the Niger State Police Command and its partners in enhancing security and ensuring a safer environment for the state’s residents.