The Ondo State Police Command has thwarted a suspected bomb attack in Akure, arresting six persons and recovering items believed to be components for improvised explosive devices.
The Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, disclosed this on Wednesday during a briefing on the security situation in the state.
He said the operation, carried out on April 15, followed credible intelligence on the activities of a suspected criminal syndicate in the state capital.
According to him, operatives moved swiftly on the information and apprehended the suspects before they could execute the planned attack.
Items recovered from the suspects include bottles, a bag of sugar, suspected charms, mobile phones, cash, laptops, slings and other exhibits.
Lawal said preliminary investigations indicated that some of the items were intended for the construction of improvised explosive devices, while others were used to coordinate criminal activities.
The suspects were identified as Adekunle Prosper, Ojo Olumide, Tope Kolawole, Ahmed Salihu, Bolaji Adebowale and Gbadebo Abidemi.
The police boss added that the suspects allegedly operated from a rented apartment in the Oke-Odu area of Akure, where a document containing potential targets was also recovered.
He noted that the timely intervention of the police prevented what could have led to loss of lives and property.
Lawal advised landlords and property managers to carry out proper background checks on prospective tenants to prevent criminals from using residential buildings as operational bases.
In a related development, the command said it arrested 10 suspected cultists in Ondo Town during a separate operation.
Among those apprehended was a wanted kingpin, Oluwatosin Temitope, popularly known as “T-Money.”
The commissioner said weapons recovered from the suspects included a firearm, cutlasses and an axe.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling security threats and assured residents of continued protection of lives and property across the state.
