Operatives of Peace on Campus Initiative (PCI), University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Monday, uncovered two improvised explosive devices in male hostel of the institution.
The operatives also arrested a diploma student of the institution, Mr Kufre Anwana, following the discovery.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that two improvised explosive devices, widely speculated as hand grenades, were found in a bag belonging to the suspect by some students, who alerted the operatives of the PCI.
National Coordinator, PCI, Mr Oliver Cromwell, told newsmen that his men in the UNIUYO chapter got information that the suspect was keeping explosive devices in his bag, while they trail him to his room in the hostel.
According to Cromwell, on discovering the devices, which was well packaged in a bag, the operatives apprehended the suspect and invited anti-bomb squad formation of the Akwa Ibom State police command, Ikot Akpan Abia, to the scene for verification and possible diffusion.
He stated that the squad detonated the two improved explosive devices, while it also conducted a search round the other hostel rooms.
“Anti-Bomb Squad was invited to come and ascertain if the explosives were real. When they came, they confirmed that those things were hand grenades and were locally made,” an eyewitness and student of the institution, who gave his name as Inyang, told the Nigerian Tribune.
Inyang stated that Anwana was not in the hostel at the time the explosives were uncovered, but was apprehended and interrogated when he returned.
It was, however, gathered that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to keeping the explosives, but dismissed that he actually bought or made them with intent to disrupting academic activities.
According to him, he stumbled on the explosive devices on the school premises, saying he was planning to hand them over to the security.
“It all started on Friday when I was coming back from the church. Just close to where the construction is going on, I saw two white things on the ground. When I picked them, I saw the inscription ‘hand grenade’,” he said.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Etim Dickson, confirmed the incident, saying that the explosives were homemade devices, which could have been invented by any of the science students in the university.
He added that the police would get to the root of the matter.
The police spokesman urged students and parents not to entertain any fear about possible breakdown of law and order in the university community.
“The incident had been properly taken care of. We are on top of the situation. We shall get to the root of the mater,” Dickson, speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in a telephone conversation, maintained.
- Tribune
