THE joint Special Task Force (STF) charged with maintaining peace in Plateau says it has impounded a lorry loaded with explosive devices.
STF spokesman Charles Ekeocha, told newsmen in Jos yesterday that the lorry, with registration no. Kano XH379 KMC, was arrested in Mista Ali, a settlement along Jos-Zaria road, on Thursday night.
Among the devices were a 15,000 Kg Ammonium Nitrate (25kg in 600 bags); 50,000 Kg of codex fuse (500x100ctns), and 5,000 pieces of electric detonators (100 pieces x 5 cases).
Also in the lorry were 1,000 pieces of cord relays, 80 pieces of softer electric detonators, 775 kg of super power, five pieces of drilling rods (4 feet) and five pieces of same drilling rod (6 feet).
According to Ekeocha, the driver of the lorry, Abubakar Usman, aged 32, had claimed that the consignment belonged to Duwan Company, a Jos-based firm, with headquarters at plot 1029, Yelwa Complex, Jos.
He said that the lorry was escorted by Kingsley Charles, who identified himself as a police constable stationed in Kaduna.
“The police officer did not have any pass, so we are detaining both of them as well as the lorry, to help investigations,’’ he said.
He said that papers for the devices were issued in Kaduna, but signed by a police commissioner in Lagos, a situation which triggered suspicion, and subsequent arrest by the STF men.
“Normally, when such things are being moved, security operatives are usually informed, but that was not done in this particular case,’’ he said.
Ekeocha rejected claims by the driver that he did not know anything on the contents of the consignment, stressing that the STF would dig deeper into the source of the explosives which he said could destroy “the whole of Plateau if put together’’.
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