Ondo Police Apprehend Six Suspects in Foiled Bomb Attack Plot

The Ondo State Police Command has successfully detained six suspects believed to be involved in a thwarted plot to carry out a bomb attack on a prominent public institution in Akure, the state capital.

Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, announced that the arrests were made possible by reliable intelligence, which prompted the rapid deployment of police operatives to a strategic location within Akure. The suspects were apprehended before they could execute their alleged plan.

According to Lawal, the arrests occurred on April 15, 2026, as a result of credible information concerning the activities of a criminal syndicate operating both within and outside Ondo State.

Law enforcement personnel acted swiftly, positioning themselves at a key area in Akure where the suspects were apprehended, thereby preventing the planned attack.

A subsequent search of the area and the suspects' accommodation in the Oke-Odu district led to the discovery of numerous items. These included 217 bottles, a quantity of sugar, fetish objects, seventeen mobile phones, cash amounting to N187,000, two laptops, eight slingshots, a knife, an external hard drive, various identity cards, a National Identity Number (NIN) card, and two motorcycles.

Initial police findings suggest that some of the recovered materials were intended for the construction of explosive devices. Other items were reportedly linked to organized criminal activities.

Investigators also found a document outlining potential targets, indicating a meticulously planned attack that could have resulted in considerable loss of life and property damage.

The police chief indicated that preliminary investigations point to the group's involvement in the assembly of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) purportedly aimed at government facilities. Evidence also suggests their network might extend beyond Akure.

He issued a caution to landlords and property managers, urging them to conduct thorough tenant verification processes to prevent criminal elements from utilizing residential properties as bases for their operations.

The detained suspects are currently in police custody as investigations continue to identify any potential accomplices or financiers. They are expected to face legal charges once the investigation is concluded.