Police reveal Boko Haram’s plan to bomb Abuja

Terrorists have perfected plots to carry out attacks on the Abuja transport sector, the Nigeria police said on Saturday.

Police spokesman, Frank Mba, said the attacks – intended to cause panic among Abuja residents and visitors – are to be perpetrated through suicide bombing or the use of improvised explosive devices concealed in luggage, bags, cans and other receptacles.

“The police high command, therefore, while ordering FCT commissioner of police in particular and other CPs in adjoining states to beef-up security at major parks around Abuja and its environs, enjoins the general public, particularly those within and outside the federal capital territory, Abuja, to be roundly vigilant and report any suspicious persons, objects, movements or activities to the security forces without delay,” Mba said.

However, he urged citizens not to panic, as security agents are working round the clock to “neutralise and effectively deal with the threat”.

“As part of additional efforts at forestalling the attacks and strengthening security around the transport sector, the police high command has called on the management of motor parks to ensure that travellers and workers’ safety comes first,” he said.

“It charges them to constantly conduct regular and routine scanning of their environments while insisting on carrying out a thorough search on passengers and their bags, as well as vehicles entering and leaving their parks.

“It also advises that such searches must have the active participation of the passengers involved and warns that any item or luggage unaccompanied by any passenger must be rejected outright and should not be allowed into the vehicle.

“Passengers are also enjoined to be on the lookout for any passenger who might come in with luggage but will attempt to disembark without such luggage.”

The police also “strongly advised” operators of motor parks to discourage overnight parking of vehicles at motor parks, particularly by unknown persons.

It advised motor park workers to reduce congestion at the parks by disallowing the indiscriminate parking of private cars, tricycles and motorcycles at the precincts of motor parks; and urged the general public in other places outside the motor parks to also monitor their environments as the terrorists may likely shift attention having known that their plots have been uncovered.

“After the incident, 21 people were confirmed dead while the wounded victims are receiving treatment in various hospitals. Two other suspects also arrested at the scene of the explosion are currently being interrogated.” The death toll eventually rose to 22, as security agents confirmed the death of one more person.

Abuja, one of the target zones of terrorist attacks in the country, has suffered two bomb blasts in the last two months.

A bomb blast at Emab Plaza in the city in June killed 22 people and left 60 wounded, while a similar attack in Nyanya in May left nine dead and 14 injured.