A woman, Mrs Aniebet John, has been caught with explosives in Cross River State by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).
She told the security agency that it was her husband, Emeka Augustine, that gave her Improvised Explosive Devices to send as a waybill to someone in Obubra Local Government.
“I have no knowledge of the device aside from what my husband used it for at the construction company where he works. This is the first time my husband would be sending me to do this kind of waybill,” she said.
Speaking while parading the suspect at the NSCDC headquarters on Tuesday in Calabar, the Commandant in the state, Samuel Fadeyi, said the 31-year-suspect was arrested by NSCDC personnel on June 25.
According to Fadeyi, the suspect was arrested with the three explosives, including three connecting components in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state, while trying to waybill the explosives to an unidentified source in Obubra Local Government Area of the state.
He said, “The lady was trying to send the device she had sealed in a nylon bag to Obubra local government area.
“We all know in Cross River as of now that Obubra local government area is volatile because of the conflict between Nko community in Yakurr Local Government Area and Onyadama in Obubra local government.
“Sending explosives through public transport is illegal, hence we had the course to intercept this lady who said she was sent by somebody to send it to another person.
“We are on the trail of the other suspects who are also involved in it but now at large.
Fadeyi went further to say that investigations revealed that the husband of the suspect is a blast master who works in a construction company.
He said the explosives found with the suspect were some of those used in one of the construction companies in Akamkpa, which the husband may have smuggled.
Noting that the command will transfer the matter to the Department of State Services, DSS, for further investigation, the commandant said, “As a corps, we have a unit called the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive Unit which makes us familiar with some of the explosive in their packages.
“When explosive moves, the National Security Adviser knows about it. The National Security Adviser informs the security agencies about the origin, route and destination so that we can keep track of it and ensure there are used for the purpose.
“This explosive device is capable of causing more harm to humans and properties if detonated.”