Terrorism: Police auction abandoned, unclaimed vehicles in Bayelsa

Posted by admin Bayelsa, Headlines, State News Friday, June 8th, 2012

AS members of the Boko Haram sect intensify their terror campaign in the North, with the recent bombing of a church in Bauchi, where over 10 persons lost their lives, authorities of the Bayelsa State police command, on Thursday, in Yenagoa, began the auctioning of abandoned vehicles to checkmate any attempt to plant Improvised Explosive Device (IED) or bomb inside such unserviceable automobiles.

Investigations conducted by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that this development was part of the pre-emptive measures by the police to check the breach of peace and security in the state.

The development came, amidst fears over threats by Boko Haram, to extend their attacks to some states in the South-South.

Nigerian Tribune authoritatively gathered that the state police commissioner, Mr Chris Olakpe, had ordered the bomb disposal unit of the command to step up its operations of combing abandoned and rickety vehicles found on the streets and major highways in the state.

Credible sources also informed the Nigerian Tribune that signals had been sent to all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) to ensure that all unclaimed and accidented vehicles in their stations were mopped up.

Confirming the development to Nigerian Tribune in Yenagoa, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Bayelsa State police command, DSP Fidelis Odunna said: “We are auctioning these vehicles to avoid a situation whereby they can be used by hoodlums to discreetly plant IEDs or bombs.”

According to him, “Vehicles listed for auctions include Foden Truck marked XE 795 AAB, accidented Volkswagen Audi 80, with registration number AJ 724 EFR, Toyota Hiace bus marked XA 626 among others.

“We are adopting proactive measures to nip in the bud any attempt to jeopardise the security of Bayelsa and that is why we are auctioning these unserviceable and unclaimed vehicles and other items.”

“ Such vehicles could be used by unscrupulous elements to plant IEDs and we don’t want to wait until that occurs before we take action”.

-vanguardwp_posts