The Police in Ondo State on Thursday said its operatives foiled a planned bomb attack in Akure, the state capital and arrested six suspects.

The alleged suspects are Dekunle Prosper (56), Ojo Olumide (39), Tope Kolawole (40), Ahmed Salihu (40), Bolaji Adebowale (46), and Gbadebo Abidemi (female, 43).

Lawal Adebowale, the police commissioner in Ondo, disclosed this during a press briefing in Akure. 

Mr Adebowale said the operatives also recovered materials suspected to be components of improvised explosive devices from the suspects. 

“The command has recorded a major operational breakthrough with the successful foiling of a planned bomb attack in Akure,” Mr Adebowale said. “The operation led to the arrest of six suspects and the recovery of materials suspected to be components for the fabrication of improvised explosive devices, alongside several other incriminating exhibits on 15th April, 2026.” 

Mr Adebowale added, “This achievement followed credible and actionable intelligence received by the Command regarding the activities of a suspected criminal syndicate operating along state lines.

“Acting swiftly on the intelligence, operatives were strategically deployed to the identified location, where the suspects were apprehended before they could execute their planned attack.”

The police chief disclosed that 217 bottles, a bag of sugar, criminal charms, 17 mobile phones, N187,000, two HP laptops, eight slings, one knife, an external hard drive, two identity cards, one National Identity Number card, and two motorcycles were among the incriminating materials recovered from the suspects. 

“Preliminary assessments indicate that some of these materials were intended for the construction of explosive devices, while others may have been used to facilitate coordinated criminal activities. 

“Early findings from the investigation reveal that the group actively engaged in assembling IEDs allegedly intended for deployment on government infrastructures, with indications that their operations may extend beyond the state capital to other parts of the country.

“Further intelligence uncovered that the suspects had recently rented an apartment in the Oke-Odu area of Akure, which they used as a base for their activities,” the police commissioner stated.