Lagos explosion: Police arrest suspected mastermind

By Evelyn Usman
LAGOS — An alleged mastermind and prime suspect of Monday bomb explosion at Miracle Sand Beach in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State,which killed the chairman of  Sand Dredgers Association, Chief Oladele Pius, and injured a Police Inspector,  has been arrested.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko at the scene of the blast

The suspect whose identity could not be ascertained was alleged to have orchestrated the explosion with the help of nine other persons. Surprisingly, he was discovered to be one of the deceased oldest staff.

Vanguard gathered that he was arrested at the scene of the blast, yesterday, while retrieving some wires buried under the sand, suspected to have been  connected to the explosive device which rocked the area.

None, at first, raised an eyebrow when he was  sighted loitering around the explosion scene, which has been vacated by the deceased colleagues. But all of a sudden, a man later discovered to be an undercover policeman reportedly appeared from nowhere and apprehended him with the wires.

Although it could not be ascertained what his mission was, Police sources hinted that it could have been a ploy to further hinder the already difficult attempt by bomb experts to ascertain  the type of explosives used.

Effort to reach the Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, on the arrest failed. But sources at the Police Headquarters, confirmed the arrest, hinting that investigation at the end  would ascertain the real position.

Suspect names 9 accomplices

 It was also gathered that during interrogation, the suspect mentioned nine other persons as his accomplices. At press time, it was gathered that the investigative team headed by the Area ‘E’ Commander, Mr Dan Okoro, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, was on the trail of the suspects mentioned. It was, however, said that some of them had bolted.

“Yes, it is true that we are holding someone in connection with Monday’s explosion.  We are still quizzing him. From the way he is talking, he looks suspicious. But we cannot outrightly state whether he is the prime suspect or not now until investigation is concluded,” Police sources told Vanguard yesterday.

Youths plan protest

Meanwhile, youths and beneficiaries of the late Oladele’s kind gesture still throng his apartment.

When Vanguard visited, the youths were planning to stage a peaceful protest to Alausa to expressed their displeasure at the Lagos State Police Command position that an electrical fault caused the death of their benefactor and also to appeal to Governor Babatunde Fashola to prevail on the Police to fish out perpetrators of the dastardly act.   They even deprived some policemen from entering the deceased duplex

However, family members o f the late Oladele have  reportedly started making arrangement on his interment.