The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state of Cross Rivers has detained one Aniebet John, 31, along with three alleged improvised explosive devices.
Mr. Samuel Fadeyi, the state’s NSCDC commandant, who paraded the suspect at the command’s headquarters on Tuesday in Calabar, claimed that NSCDC troops had taken the suspect into custody on June 25.
According to Fadeyi, the suspect was taken into custody along with three explosives and three connecting parts.
He claimed that the suspect was detained in the state’s Akamkpa LGA while attempting to waybill the explosives to an unnamed source in the state’s Obubra LGA.
“The lady was trying to send the device she had sealed in a nylon bag to Obubra LGA.
“We all know in Cross River as at now that Obubra LGA is exclusive because of the conflict between Nko community in Yakurr LGA and Onyadama in Obubra local government.
“Sending explosives through public transport is illegal, hence we had course to intercept this lady who said she was sent by somebody to send it to another person.
“We are on the trail of the other suspects who are also involved in it but now at large,” he said.
The inquiry, according to the commandant, showed that the suspect’s husband is a blast master who works for a construction company.
He clarified that the husband may have smuggled some of the explosives that were allegedly used in one of the Akamkpa construction sites.
He added that the Department of State Service would receive the case from the command for further inquiry.
“As a corps, we have a unit called the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive Unit which makes us familiar with some of the explosive in their packages.
“When explosive moves, the National Security Adviser knows about it.
“The National Security Adviser informs the security agencies about the origin, route and destination so that we can keep track of it and ensure they are used for the purpose.
“This explosive device is capable of causing more harm to humans and properties if detonated,” he said.
He advised residents in the state to be vigilant about their safety and to report any suspected person or groups of persons around them to security agencies.
The suspect said that it was her husband who provided her the alleged contraptions, along with a waybill to a local official in Obubra.
She added that other than what the husband used it for at the construction company where he works, she knew nothing else about the gadget.
“This is the first time my husband would be sending me to do this kind of waybill’’, she said.
