Police in Lagos have thwarted an attempted bomb attack in the Ikeja area, mere hours before planned nationwide demonstrations against hunger were set to begin.
The incident unfolded on Wednesday when an alert officer spotted a young man in an unregistered white Toyota Corolla leaving a suspicious package near the Nigeria Customs Service Federal Operations Unit.
In an official statement aimed at raising public awareness, the police confirmed “the discovery and successful detonation of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on 31st July, 2024, by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, along Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, Lagos.”
“All members of the public are urged to stay alert and be aware of their surroundings, reporting any unusual or suspicious behaviour. Where one encounters an unfamiliar or suspicious object, please do not touch or move it. Rather, keep a safe distance and immediately inform the Police.”
Lagos police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin provided further details to allay public fears: “The object was confirmed to be an improvised explosive device,” he told the BBC. “Our team safely detonated it and collected residual parts for further investigation.”
The foiled attack comes as Nigeria braces for widespread protests scheduled from 1-10 August 2024, with demonstrators planning to voice their anger over rising food prices and economic hardship.
While authorities have not commented on any potential link between the bomb plot and the impending protests, the official statement emphasized the severity of the threat: “The intentions of the criminally minded individuals, who acted like terrorists for planting the IEDs at that strategic location, were purely to destroy houses, facilities and innocent citizens who may transverse along the route where the items were recovered.”
To promote vigilance and public cooperation, the statement urged: “All members of the public are urged to stay alert and be aware of their surroundings, reporting any unusual or suspicious behaviour. Where one encounters an unfamiliar or suspicious object, please do not touch or move it. Rather, keep a safe distance and immediately inform the Police.”
Lagos State Police Commissioner Adegoke Fayoade praised the quick thinking of the officer who raised the alarm, demonstrating the force’s competence: “This could have been a catastrophic incident. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.”
The thwarted bomb plot highlights the complex security challenges facing Nigerian authorities as they grapple with mounting economic pressures and public discontent.
