The Ondo State Police Command said its operatives foiled a planned bomb attack in Akure, the state capital, arresting six suspects in connection with the crime.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Lawal Adebowale, disclosed this at a press briefing held this morning in Akure.
Lawal stated that the police command also recovered materials suspected to be components of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from the suspects, reports The Nation.
He identified the suspects as: Adekunle Prosper (56), Ojo Olumide (39), Tope Kolawole (40), Ahmed Salihu (40), Bolaji Adebowale (46), and Gbadebo Abidemi (female, 43).
According to him, the suspects were apprehended on 15 April following intelligence reports on the activities of a suspected criminal syndicate operating within and outside Ondo State.
“The Command has recorded a major operational breakthrough with the successful foiling of a planned bomb attack in Akure,
“The operation led to the arrest of six suspects and the recovery of materials suspected to be components for the fabrication of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), alongside several other incriminating exhibits on 15th April, 2026,” Lawal said.
He said police operatives were deployed to a location in Akure, where the suspects were apprehended before carrying out the planned attack.
“This achievement followed credible and actionable intelligence received by the Command regarding the activities of a suspected criminal syndicate operating along state lines.
“Acting swiftly on the intelligence, operatives were strategically deployed to the identified location, where the suspects were apprehended before they could execute their planned attack,” he added.
Adebowale said a thorough search of the scene and a subsequent operation at the suspects’ apartment resulted in the recovery of a cache of items, including 217 bottles, a bag of sugar, criminal charms, and 17 mobile phones.
He further revealed that the incriminating materials recovered from the suspects included N187,000, two HP laptops, eight slings, one knife, an external hard drive, two identity cards, one National Identity Number (NIN) card, and two motorcycles.
“Preliminary assessments indicate that some of these materials were intended for the construction of explosive devices, while others may have been used to facilitate coordinated criminal activities.
“Early findings from the investigation reveal that the group actively assembled IEDs allegedly intended for deployment on government infrastructures, with indications that their operations may extend beyond the state capital to other parts of the country.
“Further intelligence uncovered that the suspects had recently rented an apartment in the Oke-Odu area of Akure, which they used as a base for their activities,” the CP added.
He noted that the police’s timely intervention averted what could have resulted in significant loss of lives and destruction of property.
“Notably, a document mapping out potential target locations was also recovered, suggesting a premeditated and coordinated plan.
“The timely intervention of the police undoubtedly averted what could have resulted in significant loss of lives and widespread destruction of property,” CP Adebowale added.
