In a significant breakthrough, the Plateau State Police Command has paraded a suspected suicide bomber who was apprehended just moments before he could detonate explosive devices. This was disclosed by the Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Olugbemiga Adesina, during a press briefing held at the command headquarters in Jos on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
CP Adesina detailed that on May 13, 2024, around noon, the police received an urgent distress call from UBA Sparkling Junction, Dadin Kowa. A suspected armed robber had entered the bank, carrying explosive devices strapped to his body. He handed a note to the cashier, demanding 100 million Naira and threatening to detonate the explosives if his demand was not met.
The bank staff immediately alerted the manager, who swiftly contacted the Rantya police division and evacuated customers from the premises. Upon arrival of the police, the suspect, identified as Benjamin Basil, a student of Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi Heipang Campus, panicked and attempted to flee. With the assistance of local youths, the police successfully apprehended him.
Jos-In
— 4wardwego 🥇 (@4wardwego) May 13, 2024
This guy was caught today, May 13th, 2024, at UBA Bank, Dadin Kowa, Jos. He was attempting to detonate a bomb on the premises, but thankfully, he was apprehended.
More details will be provided soon… pic.twitter.com/qREiDf3zNK
In addition to the suspected bomber, other criminals were also paraded. Among them was Suleiman Mohamadu, 26, arrested for his involvement in an armed robbery incident reported on May 7, 2024. The robbery took place in February when Danladi Vennim was attacked and his motorcycle was stolen at gunpoint. The police recovered a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle from Suleiman, who confessed to the crime during interrogation.
Furthermore, the police command has made arrests related to a criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and culpable homicide reported on November 29, 2023. Two suspects, Yuguda Abubakar and Hassan Yuguda, both from Safiyo, Bashar district, are in custody and will be charged once investigations are complete.
In another operation on May 13, 2024, the police, acting on credible intelligence, rescued two kidnap victims from Doemak Hills, Quan’pan LGA. The victims, Dashe Dadoer, 55, and Noeman Lukas, 30, were freed after a gun battle between the police and the kidnappers, who abandoned their hostages due to the police’s superior firepower. The victims have since been reunited with their families, and the case is under investigation.
CP Adesina expressed his gratitude to the journalists for their cooperation and for providing accurate information to the public. He also commended the citizens of Plateau State for their support and timely reporting of suspicious activities, which have been instrumental in the police’s efforts to secure lives and property in the state.
