From Kenneth Iguisi, Benin
Men and officers of the Edo State Police Command on Wednesday paraded members of a suspected criminal gang engaged in the assemblage of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
The commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, who briefed journalists at the command headquarters in Benin City, said that the suspects were arrestedA�on TuesdayA�at Okugbe area, near Iddo Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area.
The suspects included Idris Ibrahim, 22, Zainab Ibrahim and Oyeza Abdul.
Kokumo said: a�?On the day in question, one of the IEDs in the ganga��s arsenal exploded and severed one of the lower limbs of one of its members named Sanusi who died instantly.a�?
He said that the development caused pandemonium in the area and its environs.
According to him, the gang leader identified as Idris Hassan Abdulmalik who is said to be an indigene of Kogi State fled while the three other members were apprehended.
Kokumo said that one Toyota Saloon car marked: Abuja-ABC371HK loaded with IEDs was recovered from the suspects.
He listed the exhibits as one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) without the launcher, one Beretta Pistol with seven rounds of .9mm live ammunition, two riot gunners and four Smoke pistols.
Others were 23 empty fire extinguisher cylinders, 18 plastic bottles of prepared borne IEDs, 21 expended Smoke cartridges, 17 pieces of pipes, two timer, four remote control panel and four remote control switches.
The CP added that nine-volt batteries, two gallons of gun powder, electric junction boxes, three hydrometers, five 500ml bottles of highly inflammable chemicals, half bag of potassium nitrate amongst others were also recovered.
He therefore enjoined the public to be security conscious.
