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Tag: Explosives

  • Ogun Assembly passes motion on regulation of explosives

    Ogun Assembly passes motion on regulation of explosives

    Ogun State House of Assembly yesterday passed a resolution calling on regulatory agencies to enforce safety precautions in the handling of explosives.

    This followed the January 16 explosion that rocked Ibadan in Oyo State, believed to have been caused by explosives stored by illegal miners,

    This, the house noted, had become necessary, especially bearing in mind the indiscriminate use of dynamites by miners at quarries in Ogun State.

    The passage of the resolution followed a motion by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff (APC-Ado Odo Ota1) and seconded by Bisi Oyedele (APC-Ipokia) during plenary.

    Opening debate on the motion, the Minority Leader, Lukman Adeleye (PDP- Odogbolu), submitted that the Ibadan explosion that claimed lives and properties in neighbouring Oyo State remained worrisome.

    He explained that it had become imperative to address the potential dangers posed by numerous mining sites in Ogun and controlled mostly by unregistered foreigners, who often disregarded environmental safety laws.

    The lawmaker said the state’s Ministry of Environment and that of Industry, Trade, and Investment, should be mandated to enforce and ensure strict compliance with safety regulations in the mining sector.

    He noted that such proactive approach was crucial to prevent disasters and protect the lives and property of residents and public infrastructure.

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    Other lawmakers, who contributed to the debate, corroborated Adeleye’s submissions and cited examples of various environmental infractions posed by illegal miners.

    Acknowledging that the mining sector was on the Exclusive List of the Federal Government, the lawmakers insisted that the state needed to put necessary measures in place to monitor and safeguard its people.

    They urged Ogun residents to report any unsafe mining practice or storage of dynamites in their vicinity to relevant government agencies.

    The lawmakers noted that the motion was a proactive measure to further put relevant government agencies on their toes to ensure the protection of lives and ensure environmental safety.

    Before the vote was taken, the Speaker, Oludaisi Elemide (APC-Odeda), implored all agencies connected with upholding safety measures to shun anything that could compromise safety, peace and tranquility in the state.

  • Embargo on explosives halts road projects in Borno

    The embargo placed on use of explosives in the North East has brought road construction and rehabilitation to a halt in Borno State.

    Contractors handling the reconstruction of Biu-Gombe road and Damaturu-Biu road disclosed this yesterday during an inspection of the North East infrastructure projects led by Minister of State for Power, Work and Housing I, Mustapha Baba-Shehiru.

    Project Manager, FIK Global Resources Limited, Taofeek Rahman, said the firm’s permissions to blast was denied by the Ministry of Mines and Steel, which noted only the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) could give such permission.

    Appealing to the Minister to intervene, he explained that dynamites are most essential element for blasting and crushing rocks, which makes up aggregates needed for the road construction.

    He said it was necessary to ensure the 119km Biu-Gombe road is completed within the 24- month schedule.

    “We have tried to start the project but we are having some constraint which is the issue of quarry.

    “So far all we are doing is scarification and making the road usable so that the people can assess it.”

    He said the construction had so far employed 140 indigenes of the community in various capacities like engineers, operators and labourers among others.

    At the 49.1km Damaturu-Biu construction site the Project Manager Omoshewo Abdul-Razaq also said the embargo on explosives has affected the progress of his work greatly.

    Abdul-Razaq said they had scarified and cleared 15km and also constructed out 10 covets.

    He also appealed to the Minister to help in getting the much needed permits.

    “The major challenge of this road is aggregate as we are aware there has not been blasting in this state for over 11years now and all the quarries are not functioning.

    “We have to go and get aggregate from as far as 160km away from here for the concrete work,” he said.

    Baba-Shehiru assured the contactor of doing everything possible to get the construction back on track after expressing satisfaction on the work done so far.

    He urged the contractors to consider the importance of the road that links Gombe, Borno and Jalingo before the raining season sets in fully.

     

  • Pipeline explosions: Army arrest 7, recover explosives

    The Nigerian military has responded to recent offensives of Niger Delta insurgents by launching an operation to the suspected hideout of embattled former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) in Oporoza community, Warri South-West council area of Delta state.
    Seven suspects were arrested while explosives, arms and ammunition were recovered.
    It was gathered that men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Pulo Shield stormed the a place identified as ‘Tompolo’s location’ at about 2:30am and made the arrests and recovery of some explosives, various calibre of arms and ammunition.
    An earlier operation on Friday had reportedly led to the arrest of one of those believed to be carrying out the various attacks on oil and gas facilities in the creeks of Delta state.
    The suspect was reportedly handed over to the navy, which authority immediately flew his to Abuja for interrogation.

  • Navy arrests man with explosives in Warri creeks

    Navy arrests man with explosives in Warri creeks

    What could have turned out to be another disastrous event in the creeks of Delta state was over the weekend salvaged as men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta arrested a suspect with huge sausages of explosives and connecting devices.

    Parading the suspect and seven others, who were arrested at different times for various offences, at the jetty of the Warri Naval Base, the Base Operations Officer of the NNS Delta, Commander Shehu Tasiu, said the suspect with the explosive materials, who gave his name as Sabbath Enaizigha, was arrested somewhere in Warri South-West council area of the state.

    Tasiu, who later handed the suspects over to the representatives of the Warri Area Command of the Delta state police command, said other persons arrested were caught in activities ranging from oil theft to illegal crude oil refining and impersonating.

    Beside Enaizigha, who was arrested with explosives last Friday, other persons paraded were Uwatse Samson and Sunny Saidu, who were arrested together on a boat loaded with illegally refined diesel fuel oil.

    Favour, Godpassdem, Doughe and Adeoye were arrested in another operation, caught with a Cotonou boat, which was loaded with 100 metric tons of illegally refined diesel.

    “Mr Sabbath was arrested on Friday by our patrol team at an undisclosed location in Warri South-West council area. Our patrol team sighted them at a beach and their behaviour was suspect. Consequently, our men moved towards them and on sighting our men, they took off, unfortunately Mr Sabbath was caught. We saw him with cutlass and there was a boat. On searching the boat, we found detonating cuts, explosive powder, cutlasses, batteries, a telephone and one bale each of red and white materials (cloths).

    “Mr Sabbath was also seen tying this red material on his legs and the white material round his neck. Although he claims not to know anything about the boat, when you go to check the boat you will see that the boat too has these red and white materials tied on it. We have done our preliminary investigation and he will be handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution,” he said.

    He had earlier said “we have made several arrests between 23 and 25 of March; eight persons in four different operations. We arrested two persons; Mr Uwatse Samson and Mr Sunny Saidu, on March 23, for suspected illegal oil bunkering activities at a camp jointly operated by Mr Cheke, Mr Gamu and Mr Benson Uwatse in Ugbodede. That camp is known for cooking of stolen crude oil.

    “When our patrol team got there, they were cited with a boat, loaded with illegally refined product, suspected to be A.G.O. They were arrested by our men and the boats were burnt insitu.

    “Another arrest was made on the same day; 23rd of March, 2016. This time around four suspects were arrested along Escravos Channel. They are Mr Favour, Mr. Godpassdem, Mr Doughe and Mr Adeoye. They were also arrested for carrying illegally refined product for which they did not have legal papers and they could not explain the circumstances under which they got the product. They were carrying about 100 metric tons of illegally refined A.G.O in a Cotonou boat,” Tasiu said

     

  • Army to punish soldiers caught with explosives, others

    Army to punish soldiers caught with explosives, others

    THE Army has confirmed that two soldiers caught with explosives and other “military items” at Yola motor-park in Adamawa State will soon be punished.

    Acting Director, Army Public Relations Colonel Sani Usman said two Explosive Ordinance Device personnel attached to 143 Battalion, 13NA/70/10183 Sapper Eric Nwokorie and 13NA/70/10263 Sapper Macauley Fortune were arrested at Yola park,” last Sunday.

    The items recovered from them, Col. Usman said, “include one smoke grenade, 2,136 live rounds of 7.62 (Special) ammunition, 50 live rounds of 7.6mm (NATO) ammunition, five magazines of AK 47 rifles, two Browning Machine Gun live rounds of ammunition”.

    Others include “axe, cutlass, Jack knife, nine Jungle hats, 11 pairs of camouflage, four military pullovers, one black beret, one green beret, one pair of No. 7 dress, two general duty belt, 12 Army T-shirts, two rain coats, two water bottles, one pairs of rain boot and five pairs of desert boots”.

    He described them as “the black sheep among the force”, saying they would be punished after investigation.

    The spokesman added that a Special Court Martial is looking into the case of some officers indicted for allegedly sabotaging activities of the military in flushing out the Boko Haram insurgents from the Northeast.

    “The Army is not happy about unfortunate attacks by Boko Haram terrorists on communities close to Maiduguri, despite our success.

    “To this end, the Army has commenced investigation into the attacks. Those found wanting will be dealt with in accordance with the Armed Forces Act.  A standing Special Court Martial in the Northeast has been established by the Army.  Cases of indiscipline and related acts of misconduct, including human rights abuse, will be tried by the Special Court Martial,” Col. Usman said.

    On the protest by 250 dismissed soldiers at the NUJ secretariat in Kaduna, he said: “The protesting soldiers were dismissed last week by the Army over gross acts of indiscipline, cowardice and absence without leave. They were part of the 2,023 dismissed soldiers last year that were reinstated into the Service by the Chief of Army Staff.

    “However, these soldiers (250) absconded for more than one week when they were told they were to move to the Northeast on January 6, 2016.

    “They started coming back when they realised that others were moved to units other than the theatre of operations in the Northeast. Please note that efforts were made to make the reinstated soldiers comfortable and reintegrate them into the system.

    “The protesting soldiers are the few who are recalcitrant to military duties and discipline. They are simply not interested in Army job, but want to earn salary. No one should listen to them as they are not patriotic…

    “However, the attitude of some of them has left so much to be desired and would not be tolerated anymore, hence their dismissal from Service.”

  • Abandoned IEDs explodes in Edo

    Abandoned IEDs explodes in Edo

    Some Improvised Explosive Devices known as IEDs believed to have been abandoned by kidnappers and notorious criminals Tuesday exploded in Edo State.

    The incident occurred at house number 40 at about 2pm at Zomi street off Upper Sakponba road in Ikpoba Okha local government area.

    Residents who were at home when the explosion occurred said they heard a loud sound that shook their houses.

    The explosion shattered windows of houses in the area.

    Two persons were seriously injured in the blast but no live was lost.

    It was gathered that policemen recently raided the house looking for kidnappers.

    Some said the house was used as the kidnappers hideout before police swooped on them and some of them ran away.

    A 70-year woman living opposite the building who gave her name as Hannah said she heard a large sound.

    A tenant in the building who gave his name as Chinedu Elue when the explosion occurred said he decided to do some cleaning after an electrician came to work in his apartment.

    He said he went out to buy ice cream after setting fire on some dirt when he heard explosion.

    Chinedu said he recently moved into the apartment and that another family living in the house was not at home.

    Men of anti-bomb squad led by DCP Musa UBA detonated other explosives found in the compound.

    Residents in the area stood at a distance and watched in fear.

    Inside the building, the place where the bomb exploded left hole on the ground.

  • Troops clear Gwoza-Yamteke road of explosives, landmines

    The 7th Division of the Nigerian Army yesterday disclosed that its troops have cleared the Gwoza-Yamteke Highway of explosives and landmines.

    It restated the determination of the Army to clear all roads in the Northeast of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by Boko Haram terrorists.

    In a statement, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Tukur Gusau, said: “The Nigerian Army during clearance and linking up operations successfully recovered five IEDs planted on the road linking Gwoza-Yamteke road. The explosives have since been defused and destroyed by the team of Nigerian Army engineers.

    “Similarly, the troops conducting clearance operations in Dikwa area following routing out of terrorists in the area couple of days ago discovered a hideout in which weapons and equipment suspected to be used by the Boko Haram terrorists for construction of IEDs were hidden.

    “These includes: five Drilling Machines, 1 Filing Machine, 2 Cutting Machine, 1 Disc Filing Machine, 52 Compact Discs, 9 Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), 7 Charges, 1 105mm Pack Howitzer, 1 BMG Tripod stand and 1 Cutting and Drilling Machine.

    ”It is instructive that the troops are more than ever ready to ensure that the Boko Haram terrorists are flushed out and peace is restored by all means.”

  • Police recover more explosives in Yobe

    Police recover more explosives in Yobe

    The police in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, said they have recovered more explosives in one of the vehicles of the suicide bombers arrested at a checkpoint in Damaturu two days ago.

    Police Commissioner Marcus Danladi told reporters at a news briefing that after a thorough search by men of the Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) of the command on the scene of the attack, more explosives and arms were recovered.

    He said: “Besides the high calibre military bombs recovered from the body of the female member of the suicide squad, on Tuesday investigators were sent to the scene with police EOD experts to evacuate the carcasses for investigation.

    “Upon evaluation by the EOD men, six units of military mortal bombs and two heavy (50kg) improvised bombs, carefully concealed and primed, were recovered from the carcasses.”

    Danladi said two military GPMG; general purpose machine gun; 500 live ammunition of GPMG; two units of Ak 47 assault rifles and two magazines of Ak 47 rifles were recovered from the scene.

    The CP said the insurgents had an encounter with the police at Bara in Gulani Local Government.

    He condoled with the families of the policemen, who died during the suicide attack.

  • Explosives found in Jos church

    Explosives found in Jos church

    TWO Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) were yesterday discovered at a branch of ECWA Church in Tudunwa, Angwan Yashi, near the Federal Secretariat in Jos, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

    “They were removed and detonated,” spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Ezekiel Manzo said.

    According to Manzo, who spoke on the telephone from Abuja, one of the bombs was found in the church’s toilet

    The controlled-detonation took place within the church premises, the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) said in a post on its Twitter account.

    A witness near the church said the noise from the “massive” explosion was very loud and that the casualty might be high as worshippers were at the church for the Sunday service.

    The IEDs were found one week after a similar explosion at a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCP) in Yobe State, claiming many lives.

    Their discoveries also came barely a week after two blasts, believed to have been masterminded by the deadly Boko Haram insurgent, rocked the Tin City, killing scores and leaving several others injured.

    Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Plateau State Command, Emmanuel Abuh, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) said: “Yes there was a blast at an ECWA Church at Tudun Wada area in Jos North LGA, but it is not as bad as that of last week. So details will come”.

    On Saturday, suspected Boko Haram militants launched an attack on a prison in the southern Nigerien town of Diffa military sources said.

    The attack was in an apparent bid to free fellow members of the sect being held in the Nigerian neighbouring country.

    Three of the assailants and a soldier were killed before the attack was repelled, the sources said.

    “When the attack was repelled, the assailants fled, probably back into the town,” one military source said. “We are searching for them,” the source added.

    Another military source said the attackers may have been residents of Diffa, as no one had seen them enter the town.

    Also yesterday, the Chadian government warned it will clamp down full-face veil wearing Muslims.

    Chadian police said that anyone found wearing the full-face veil would be arrested.

    The warning came after a Boko Haram suicide bombing left 15 dead in Ndjamena.

    Saturday’s attack in a bustling N’Djamena market by a man disguised as a woman in a full-face veil also injured 80 and spread panic across the city.

    “This attack just confirms that a ban” on the full-face veil was justified, national police spokesman Paul Manga said, adding that “it now must be respected more than ever by the entire population.

    “Anyone who does not obey the law will be automatically arrested and brought to justice,” he warned.

    The bomber detonated his explosives belt when he was stopped for security checks at the entrance to the city’s main market.

    Muslim-majority Chad banned the full-face veil, ramped up security measures and bombed militant positions in Nigeria last month after the first-ever Boko Haram attack in its capital.

    Security was tightened across the dry and dusty capital on yesterday with police and soldiers deployed in all areas, including intersections, markets and mosques.

    Nine of the dead were women traders, and fear still permeated the market on yesterday.

    “What was happening elsewhere and what we heard about from media reports is now happening here,” said Zenaba, a woman trader in her forties.

    “I’m really scared for me and my children,” she said.

  • Man held with suspected explosives at Lagos airport

    Man held with suspected explosives at Lagos airport

    Physically-challenged man handed over to police 

    Security tightened

    There was anxiety yesterday at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos as security officials arrested a disabled young man who was said to be carrying improvised explosive devices. The man was seized as he attempted to enter a facility near Centrex unit of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

    According to sources, the disabled young man was moving suspiciously along the road leading to the international wing of the airport when private security officials arrested him, according to a source.

    The officials handed the suspect over to the Police.

    The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) confirmed the incident.

    In statement, NAMA spokesman Supo Atobatele said: “The basic truth, however, is that the said suspect was on the ground making phone calls along the airport road close to CENTREX, an annex office of NAMA when the agency’s security personnel accosted him of his presence.

    “His incoherent explanation exposed him to the security personnel who later found on him some devices suspected to be explosives.

    He was subsequently handed over to the Airport Police Command for further investigation.”

    The managing director, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, praised the security personnel for their vigilance and prompt arrest of the suspect.

    A source said the suspect was moved to the headquarters of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command at Beesam Junction on Airport Road where he was still under interrogation last night.

    A source close to the police said the device found on him are wired cables, which could be converted into explosives.

    Officials of the Explosive Ordinance Department of the police were examining the devices last night.

    An eyewitness said the device, which has been diffused, was hung on the suspect’s neck, adding that he attracted passersby.

    Sequel to the arrest of the suspected would-be bomber, security had been tightened around both the domestic and international terminals of the Lagos Airport.

    Many workers, contractors and others who passed through the main entrance into the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria( FAAN), NAMA and other offices were subjected to intensive searches.

    They were requested to submit their bags for check before entering the offices.

    Workers of aviation agencies gathered in groups to discuss the implication of what was seen as threat to security around the airport.

    At the Beesam Junction headquarters of the Police Command, detectives and anti-bomb specialists were interrogating the suspect.

    But a source said the Inspector General of Police had been briefed about the development.

    A source said the police were investigating the matter to ascertain if the wires found on the suspect were for an explosive.