Terror suspect has no brother in Police – CP

Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ade Shinaba, has faulted the claim by a suspected terrorist, Mr. John Akpabu, that his brother in the police owned the ammunition and tear gas cannisters found in his possesion at Radio House in Abuja on Monday.

But Shinaba on Tuesday described the suspect’s claim as “dubious”.

The suspect is being detained at the Criminal Investigation Department of the FCT Police Command, Abuja.

The commissioner said the police had no record of the person Akpabu claimed was in service that owned the 37 live rounds of AK 47 ammunition and the tear gas canisters found on him.

Akpabu was arrested with three tear gas canisters and 37 live rounds of AK 47 ammunition as he attempted to gain entrance into the Radio House complex in Abuja on Monday, venue of a ministerial press briefing.

Shinaba, who spoke during a visit to the Radio House on Tuesday, said investigations were ongoing to ascertain the source of the items found on the suspect, as well as his motive and other accomplices.

He said, “We are still going on with the investigations. The suspect claimed that the items found on him belonged to his late brother who was a policemen, but the name he gave us did not tally with any name in the police record.

“He said his brother died nine years ago, but we cannot find any such records, so we are still investigating to establish the motive and other things.”

Meanwhile, the State Security Service and the police have disagreed on the items found on the suspect.

While the police said Akpabu was caught with grenades, the SSS identified the items as tear gas canisters.

The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, had stated that the ‘terror’ suspect was found with grenades, adding that he had been taken into custody and was undergoing interrogation interrogation.

He stated that no motive had been established yet, but detectives were quizzing Akpabu on the items found in his possession.