The Plateau Police Command has paraded an alleged suicide bomber arrested on the verge of making efforts to detonate a bomb device in Jos, the State Capital.
The commissioner of police, Plateau State Command, CP Emmanuel Adesina, revealed this when parading the suspected bomber and other criminals before journalists at the command headquarters in Jos plateau.
According to the police boss, on the 13th May, 2024 at about noon, the police received a distress call from UBA Sparkling Junction, Dadin Kowa, reporting a suspected armed robber who had entered the banking hall with suspected explosive devices tied around his body, and handed over a note to the cashier demanding for the sum of 100 Million Naira under the threat that the explosives would be detonated if his request is not granted.
“The bank attendant immediately reported to the manager of the bank who swiftly reported to the Police at Rantya division and evacuated the customers from the bank. On sighting the Police vehicle, the suspect panicked and started running out of the bank, in the process, our Police officers posted at the bank saw him running and pursued him with the help of the youths in the area, he was arrested. His name is Benjamin Basil male, a student of Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi Heipang Campus,” he said.
Adesina, while appreciating the swift action of police officers and local residents, added that the suspect was apprehended before any harm could be inflicted, averting a potential catastrophic incident.
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The suspected bomber, Benjamin Basil, when asked why he was strapped and ready to detonate the explosives, said he was forced by unknown men to forcefully get 100 million from the bank.
“I met some people who said if I don’t cooperate with them, they will explode me and I will just die. And everyone in the bank will die. Then I said, okay, I’m willing to cooperate. But first of all, let me try to document it.
“In the beginning of the note I wrote read from beginning to the end. Then I showed them. At that point I realized that they couldn’t read. I Wrote to inform the cashier that I’m wrapped in suicide bomb at gunpoint. And I’m doing this against my will, I told him so that he will call for help.
“They also told me that when I come out With the 100 million naira I am to collect from the bank in the two bags they gave me, twelve of their men will be waiting outside and they will collect the bag from me. Then they will disconnect the bomb from their own side,” he added.
Cp Adesina revealed that that the case is currently under investigation at the state CID, to ascertain the validity of his claims and arrest possible accomplices. He further called on citizens to remain calm and law-abiding.
