The Niger State Police Command has uncovered a significant cache of explosive devices, including bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), buried in various locations throughout the state. This discovery follows a recent incident where suspected bandits killed 13 farmers in the area.
The explosives, believed to have been hidden by terrorists and bandits operating in Shiroro, Munya, and Minna local government areas, were uncovered as part of extensive counter-insurgency operations conducted from 2021 to 2023. The operations involved a collaborative effort between the police and other security agencies.
The Command’s spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, reported that Commissioner of Police Shawulu Danmamman ordered the destruction of the recovered devices. The explosives were neutralized on August 22, 2024, at a site behind Zuma Rock in Suleja, under the supervision of SP Mohammed Mamun from the EOD-CBRN Unit.
The cache included four pipe-borne IEDs, explosives hidden in military missile shells, and suspected military hand grenades. This find comes a week after a brutal attack on farmers by suspected bandits, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in the region.