BY OKEY NDIRIBE, LAIDE AKINBOADE and CALEB AYANSINN
Tragedy was averted, Monday, at Radio House Abuja when a suspected bomber was arrested with a package of bombs and ammunition at the gate of the building which houses the Federal Ministry of Information, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Voice of Nigeria (VON).
The man was caught while the ministers of Information, Labaran Maku; Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah and Youths, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi were presenting their achievements at the Ministerial Platform in commemoration of the forth-coming Democracy Day and first anniversary of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Apart from the Ministers at the Press Centre of the Radio House, venue of the event the hall was packed with Permanent Secretaries, Directors-General of several Federal Government ministries and scores of journalists from many media houses who had converged to cover the event.
It was learnt that the man, believed to be in his thirties attempted to sneak into the premises of the Radio House pretending to be a photographer following a female newspaper reporter in order to gain access. Although the suspected terrorist managed to get past the gate, luck ran out on him as eagle-eyed security operatives spotted him and ordered him to stop. He hesitated before complying. When his bag was searched, the deadly cargo was found on him.
The arrested suspected bomber.
When he was interrogated he said the suspected bombs and ammunition belonged to his late brother who was a corporal with the Police Mobile Force in Bayelsa.
According to the man who identified himself as John Apovan: “I am from Nassarawa state and my brother who was a Mobile Police Corporal served in Bayelsa State. His name was Aliyu Clement and he died in November 2011.”
He claimed his late brother had brought the arms and ammunition when he travelled to their village in Nassarawa State.
He continued: “When he came to the village, he fell sick and died. We sent signal to Bayelsa but the signal was said to have stopped on the way.”
He said he decided to bring the package left behind by his late brother to Abuja.
When he was interrogated he said the suspected bombs and ammunition belonged to his late brother who was a corporal with the Police Mobile Force in Bayelsa.
According to the man who identified himself as John Apovan: “I am from Nassarawa state and my brother who was a Mobile Police Corporal served in Bayelsa State. His name was Aliyu Clement and he died in November 2011.”
He claimed his late brother had brought the arms and ammunition when he travelled to their village in Nassarawa State.
He continued: “When he came to the village, he fell sick and died. We sent signal to Bayelsa but the signal was said to have stopped on the way.”
He said he decided to bring the package left behind by his late brother to Abuja.
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