Matilda Omonaiye/
The police in Delta have uncovered packs of a high-powered Indian-made explosive device along the Ughelli/Patani Road in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state, a few hours to the presidential and national assembly elections.
The Commissioner of Police, Adeyinka Adeleke, said the bomb was discovered by men of the Anti Robbery Squad led by its Commander, SP Masoyi Dadi on Thursday night.
Independent investigations by NewsmakersNG revealed that the bomb known as Superpower 80 is a packaged emulsion explosive and a robust, high strength, detonator sensitive one.
The Technical Data Sheet seen by NewsmakersNG shows that the explosives are made by Solar Industries India Limited.
According to the manufacturers, the explosive has a firm putty-like consistency. Products are sensitized through chemical gassing / micro-spheres / combination of both. It is a water-resistant packaged explosive.
Superpower 80 is designed for priming applications and as a column explosive in surface and underground mining and general blasting. The high detonation velocity and the robust nature of Superpower 80 make it an ideal primer for the initiation of column charge.
The police in a statement signed by its acting Spokesman in Delta, Mr Chuks Oresewezie, also disclosed that IED was intercepted in an unregistered white Toyota Hilux which refused to stop.
The statement reads: “On 21/2/19 at about 19:45hrs, Police Officers of Delta State Police Command Led By CP Adeyinka B Edeleke Intercepted A White Toyota Hilux vehicle without Plate Number and Recovered 128 Pieces of Explosives and 5 pieces of Electric detonators inside the Back Compartment of the Hilux Car along Ughelli-Patani Road Delta State.
“Occupants of the Vehicle who refused to stop at the Police Check Point were Pursued by the Police team and the 2 Suspects in the Vehicle Swerved the Vehicle in High Speed into the bush before jumping and escaping. On Searching the Recovered Vehicle all the Above Mentioned Explosive was found by the Police.
“The White Toyota Hilux Vehicle and the Explosives are now at the Delta State police Command Headquarters Asaba under the custody of the Explosives and Ordinance Department (EOD) of the State Police Command.
“Serious efforts to arrest all the Culprits in Progress.”
The police commissioner also appealed to residents to remain calm, adding that there was no reason to be apprehensive over the matter as the command had launched an investigation into it.
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