Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri
The Imo State Police Command yesterday said its anti-bomb unit, based on security surveillance uncovered three undetonated bombs at the explosion site around the Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Limited in Izombe, Oguta Local Government Area of Imo state.
An explosion occurred last Wednesday at the oil flow station reportedly leading to the death of two suspected attackers carrying the explosives.
The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mike Abattam, made this known to newsmen on Friday in Owerri.
The Police said: “Sequel to report received on 4/5/2022 at about 06:45 hours, from the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Addax flow station, Izombe in Oguta LGA of Imo State, that on the same day at about 01:45 hours, they heard a loud explosion outside the company premises, making them suspect an attack on the company’s facilities.
“On receipt of this information, the Command’s Tactical Teams and the Explosives Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD-CBRN), were immediately dispatched to the scene at Izombe where on arrival a lifeless body of a young man suspected to be a member of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was seen with his two hands cut off.
“On close observation, it was discovered that, while in possession of the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in the company of others ferrying it to where they were to use it, the bomb suddenly detonated and exploded resulting in the death of the young man while others were suspected to be fatally injured due to the volume of bloodstains and trails seen all around the scene of the blast.
“The Bomb Unit took charge of the scene, carefully sweeping the area and beyond in the process three more Improvised Explosives Devices were recovered. One has been detonated while the other two are specifically constructed with GSM phones attached to them and will only explode when the configured number is dialled were still intact. In conclusion, the scene was declared safe from any explosive devices. It was then the police operatives carried out a diligent search where a big iron cutter and an Itel handset were recovered at the station.
“On the spot assessment of the scene of the incident discovered that the distance between the oil tanks/pipelines and where the explosion occurred is about five meters hence, it is suspected that the target of the hoodlums might have been to attack and destroy the company’s facilities before they met their Waterloo,” Police said.
