Nigeria to deploy bomb detection dogs to airports, seaports – Police

The police said it destroyed a bomb factory in Bauchi on Sunday.

The Explosives Ordnance Disposal Command of the Nigerian Police Force has taken delivery of Explosive Detection Canine (EDC) which will be deployed to all Nigerian airports, seaports and land borders, the police said on Wednesday.

EDCs are dogs trained in the detection of bombs and dangerous explosives.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the command, Abdulmajid Ali, made this known in Lagos while reviewing the activities of the command in 2013.

He said that the deployment was a part of the command’s strategies to improve on its operations nationwide.

“Anytime from now, EDC will be deployed to all the airports, seaports and our strategic borders because they increase security and enhance explosives detection,” Mr. Ali said.

He said the dogs “have expertise in conducting large scale sweeps of facilities that are used in airports, seaports and land borders.”

“To this end, security will be maximised and consolidated in all these places.

“We also want to assure members of the public that the command is fully prepared in 2014 to tackle any Improvise Explosives Device (IED) anywhere in the country,” Mr. Ali said.

The commissioner said that in 2013, the command recovered and demolished assorted IEDs, grenades, dynamites, detonators and rocket launchers in many parts of the country.

He said the command also dismantled a bomb manufacturing factory located at Tudun Salamnanu Fadama Mada area of Bauchi State on Feb. 19, 2013.

He said that officers of the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, provided security at national and international events, including elections.

The commissioner said that 320 the officers underwent Basic Explosive Ordnance Devices (EOD) Training, while 200 others were trained in diverse spheres of their operations both locally and abroad.

He said that 12 new EOD Units were established during the year in different parts of the country with a view to checking activities of terrorists.

(NAN)