Police arrest suspect for Lagos explosion

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a man in connection with the explosion which occurred on Miracle Sand Beach under the Amuwo Odofin Link Bridge resulting in the death of the chairman of the Sand Dredgers Association, Oladele Pius.

The suspect, it was learnt, was arrested on Wednesday at the site of the explosion by policemen. According to reliable sources, the suspect was caught while trying to make away with scraps of the device that caused the explosion.

The source said the suspect had been taken to the Area E command, FESTAC and was being interrogated.

“One person has been arrested and he has implicated some people already. However, investigations are ongoing. He was attempting to recover some wires which were believed to have caused the explosion. Give us enough time to complete investigation,” he said.

The police had on Tuesday quizzed the people who last spoke with the deceased after reports that he was called from home to come to his duty post under the bridge a few minutes before the explosion occurred.

Friends of the deceased had also told PUNCH Metro that several attempts had been made on his life by virtue of his position as the chairman of the association as well as a leader and benefactor to many in Amuwo Odofin.

The deceased had only recently won a re-election as chairman.

The police had however said the explosion was not caused by a bomb but an electrical fault under the bridge.

When contacted on the telephone, the spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, said she could not confirm any arrest as of press time.

“Many people have called me about the arrest but I have not been able to get in touch with the Area E Commander,” she said.