The Plateau State Police Commissioner, Mr Emmanuel Adesina, on Tuesday, assured the public that rumours on social media of a bomb threat at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) in Dadin Kowa, Jos South local government area of the state is untrue.

According to Adesina, around noon on Monday, a distress call was received from the bank that a young man, suspected to be armed, entered the bank and demanded N100 million from the cashier. The bank manager alerted security, who apprehended the suspect, identified as Benjamin Basil, a student at the Plateau State Polytechnic.

Adesina explained that the bank manager was promptly alerted and quickly notified the security staff, who in turn informed the Police Rantya Division.

The police chief stated that the suspect, sensing danger, began to panic as he realised that security agents were present.

The commissioner explained that as the security forces approached, Basil attempted to escape, tripped, and fell.

“As he fell, people around him naturally expected that there might be a bomb blast. However, nothing of the sort occurred, and the people around, along with some youths, summoned the courage to apprehend the suspect.

“They quickly removed the alleged bomb that he had strapped around his waist, and he was arrested. He is a student named Benjamin Basil, from Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi. The CID has arrested him and is still investigating,” he added.

Experts from the Explosive Ordnance Devices (EOD) unit assessed the device tied around his waist and determined it was not a bomb capable of detonation.

He said, “The experts confirmed that it could not be a bomb capable of detonation. Members of the public should not panic. It is not something that should cause alarm.”

Responding to questions from journalists, the commissioner said he was unaware of any intent by the suspect to carry out a revenge attack in the bank or harm himself and his girlfriend, who works in the bank. He added that the investigation would reveal more details in due course.

In an interview, Basil told journalists that he was kidnapped by unknown gunmen while on his way to school around 9 a.m. Monday.

“Yesterday, I was instructed to tie this rubber around my body, and they threatened to kill me if I refused to cooperate. They said they would take me to a bank (UBA), where I should demand N100 million.

“They provided me with a motorcycle and a rider. They repeated that any failure to cooperate would be met with death. I complied and told the cashier that I was a suicide bomber and that he should cooperate with me.

“Also, my kidnappers said that six of them would be waiting for me outside the bank with AK-47 rifles to collect the N100 million. So, when I saw policemen approaching, I ran and fell down in the process.”

Regarding his abduction, Basil said that it occurred near the Police Staff College, Jos, while he was en route to school.

The suspect stated that he was 17 years old and lived near the staff quarters of the Police Staff College. He is a first-year National Diploma student in Mechanical Engineering.