EXCLUSIVE: Police Intercept Another Plot to Bomb Tank Farms, Petrol Tankers in Lagos

LAGOS CP, UMAR MANKO

As concerted efforts of security agencies to stamp out the menace of terrorism in the nation powers on, the Lagos State Police Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, Wednesday, reiterated the command's commitment to foil any terrorism attempt to infiltrate the state.

While stressing that adequate security has been in place across the state to beat any act of  terrorism, Manko was reacting to the alleged threat by the Nigeria’s Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), to attack petroleum trucks and tank farms in the state. 

Manko's statement is coming at the heels of the recent foiled attempt by the Boko Haram sect to simultaneously bomb 16 designated landmarks in Lagos including tank farms in Apapa and Ijora, a plot which was nipped in the bud operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) and a joint taskforce comprising of all arms of the armed forces.

THISDAY had exclusively reported that the sect had also planned to plant terrorists cells in the South-west with Lagos as its headquarters of its nefarious act.

Meanwhile, the CP's statement gave credence to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika's disclosure two months ago that the Boko Haram terrorists had smuggled in the said explosives into Lagos through empty fuel tankers.

MEND in its recent threat had declared that henceforth, every oil tanker distributing petroleum products including propane gas would be used as a yardstick in its war against corruption, depotism, injustice and oppression.

In their warning note, the sect had stressed that any driver who continues to drive these oil trucks do so at their own risk, adding that the public should keep a safe distance from such vehicles as it probably might explode anytime and anywhere.

Although he maintained that the command would not disclosed its strategy on how to tackle such security threats of this nature, Manko however stressed that the command was on top of the situation and are capable of nipping such threats in the nub.

He said, "Security has been beefed up by the command to ensure that all tanker terminals, tank farms and other establishments associated to petroleum industry are guarded by heavily armed men.

"Meanwhile, the command would continue to use a lot intelligence to overcome the situation. In other words, we would continue to work on intelligence report to avoid any unforeseen eventuality."

On that note, he however called on truck drivers to exercise maximum security consciousness and alert security agencies of any strange behaviour exhibited by either their colleagues or strangers in their environment.

He said, "I urge those who drive their trucks  to always be on alert. They should also report to the nearest security agency any driver who is not a member of their association who comes into their tanker park with a car or truck to park in the terminal.

"Asides that, the tanker drivers are also advised to avoid parking in an unsecured place especially when they were carrying petroleum products as they might give room for the sect to take advantage of the situation."