The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, has directed that the suspected suicide bomber arrested near the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday be moved to Abuja.
A security source said that the IG ordered the transfer of the physically-challenged terror suspect to Abuja for immediate interrogation and investigation into his activities.
The source said that the suspected insurgent would be in Abuja on Tuesday evening in view of the urgency of the IG’s directive.
The suspected suicide bomber was said to have attempted to bomb the annex office of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, located inside the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, when he was apprehended by security personnel on Monday.
The physically-challenged suspect whose name was yet to be ascertained was reportedly arrested with suspected explosives around his neck.
The suspect, who was later handed over to the police by Airport security operatives, was subsequently taken to the Airport Police headquarters along the Ikeja- Airport Road.
The source said that investigation would also focus on the mental state of the suspect and the veracity of the statements he was said to have made to security operatives.
It was learnt that security operatives would not rush to make any statement about the suspect in order to avoid sending out wrong information to the public.
It was further learnt that prior to the directive to move the suspect to the Force Headquarters, the Police in Lagos had been looking at claims that the terror suspect might have mental challenges.
Security operatives were said to be investigating the canisters that were said to be in custody of the suspect when he was arrested with a view to finding out whether they were Improvised Explosive Devices or not.
The source said that the security operatives would ensure a holistic investigation into the incident in spite of claims that the cripple was known in the area to be of unstable mind.
The source said, “That suspect has been moved to Abuja; the police are the ones investigating the matter.
“Today, the IG issued an urgent directive that the suspect should be moved to Abuja immediately and I think that has been done.
“Although, there are issues about the state of mind of the man, but we are not taking any chances; the matter would be investigated thoroughly.”
The NAMA General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Supo Atobatele, had said that the suspect was on the ground making phone calls and that he could not offer coherent explanation when accosted, hence his arrest.
Meanwhile, security was tightened at the Lagos Airports on Tuesday, following the arrest of the suspect.
One of our correspondents reported that most passengers and operators around the airport were subjected to vigorous security checks by security officials.
General Manager, Corporate Communications, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said on Tuesday that the issue of security of passengers and the airports remained important
“The issue of safety and security of the airport has remained our priority and the various security agencies are collaborating with us for a secure and safe environment,” he said.
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