Police Recover 147 Bombs Near Maiduguri

Alleged ordnance (Improvised Explosive Devices or IEDs) found in Sumo village in Konduga LGA 40km from State Capital, Maiduguri (Photo: Leadership)

Borno State Police Command yesterday celebrated the averting of a major disaster in Maiduguri when it announced the interception and recovery of 147 units of explosive ordnance hidden in a village not more than 40 kilometres from the state capital, Maiduguri.

Though Boko Haram was largely suspected to be the couriers of such deadly explosives, it is believed that the insurgents may have abandoned them during the failed attack on Maiduguri penultimate Sunday.

Leadership reports the 147 unexploded explosives, otherwise known as Cluster Ordnances (UXOS) in military parlance, were found in a village called Sumo in Konduga local government area of Borno State.

Journalists were not shown the explosives at the headquarters because the police officials said men of the police anti-bomb squad had “carefully and safely detonated them.”

Borno State police commissioner Clement Adoda told reporters in his office in Maiduguri that the warheads were recovered about two kilometres away from Sumo village near Janaka, Konduga LGA, by a combined team of Bomb Disposal Unit and troops attached to Janaka general area, led by Captain Daniel Yakubu.

“The explosives were recovered and destroyed in good time without injuries or damages to lives and property,” he said.

“Similarly, the State Bomb Disposal Team had also recovered unexploded ordnance (UXOS) suspected to have been launched during the February 1,   2015 Boko Haram attack on Maiduguri city in one of the boys’ quarter apartments at the residence of the state director of the NYSC, Alhaji Lawan on February 4, 2015, at about 4:55pm along Damboa road, Maiduguri.

The police explained that the explosives were rendered safe without damage to life and property.

The Borno police chief said the successful recovery and detonation of the deadly ordnance would not have been possible without the help of the villagers.

“This feat would not have been achieved without the timely rendering of information to security agents by members of the public. It is hoped this will be encouraged further to guarantee a safer environment to all and sundry,” he said.