2 PERSONS ARRESTED IN EBONYI STATE FOR ALLEGEDLY PLANNING TO BLOW UP A BRIDGE

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has directed security agencies in the state to step up surveillance on critical infrastructure following the arrest of two suspects who attempted to bomb a six span bridge in the area.

He gave the directive while briefing newsmen on security situations ahead of the General Election in the state.

Correspondent Amechi Odo reports that the two suspects were arrested at Idembia Community in Ezza South Local Government Area of the state.

The two suspects whose names were given as Chijoke Uwakwe and Kingsley Nweke were said to have succeeded in planting the explosives on Ugwogo Bridge in Idembia community before they were arrested by members of neighbourhood watch.

Governor Umahi, who described the incident as a case of terrorism, noted that they were apprehended barely four hours after the state government shared intelligence with security agencies on plans by some suspects to procure explosives from quarry sites and plant same on some facilities.

‘’I got information that explosives were going to be planted around hotels bridges and flyovers and at night we got confirmation that explosives were being planted on Idembia bridge,’’ Umahi said.

Governor Umahi said a House of Representatives candidate was also arrested by the Army with a pistol shortly after exchanging gunfire with another candidate in Ezza North Local Government Area and appealed to the people not to be deterred by the security scare to exercise their franchise.

Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ebonyi State, Mrs. Loveth Odah, explained that the suspects were in police custody while investigation had commenced.

“The explosive device unit of the Nigeria Police Force has been dispatched to nooks and crannies of the state to sweep, we actually knew that things like this might come but we didn’t know it will be this prompt,” the PPRO said.

Mrs Odah added that security agencies were on high alert to check the activities of criminal elements and ensure that the Election was violence free.

AMECHI ODO