Police reveal how hoodlums attacked, bombed APP office in Rivers

Rivers State Police Command has said its investigation revealed that the people who attacked and detonated explosive at the state secretariat of Actions People’s Party, APP, in Port Harcourt, came in a car.

The command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, who revealed this said, the car arrived the scene with two young men alighting and detonating the explosive.

According to her, the command received a distress call on August 12, 2024, reporting a loud explosion at APP secretariat located in Tombia Extension, GRA Phase 2, Port Harcourt.

She said the state police commissioner and a team of tactical units with experts from the Explosives Ordinance Disposal (EOD/Anti-Bomb) Squad were immediately mobilised to the scene to assess the situation.

She added that the team cordoned off the area and commenced Explosive Ordinance Disposal Procedures and search operations.

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The PPRO said the command’s EOD experts identified a crater created in front of the building, where the device was placed, causing shockwaves and damaging the glass of the windows and doors.

“Eyewitnesses around the time the explosion was heard revealed that a car had been parked a few metres from the APP secretariat and two men had alighted from the car, walked to the building and ignited the suspected device before throwing it at the secretariat. They then re-entered the vehicle and drove off.

“The discovery of a crater and other pieces of evidence, as well as eyewitness accounts, indicate the detonation of an explosive device. Thankfully, no loss of life was recorded, but damage was done to the front of the building.

“Samples from the site of the explosion have been taken for further forensic investigation. Operatives of the command have been detailed to intensify efforts to investigate and apprehend all suspects involved in this incident,” she said.

The PPRO identified the prime suspect behind the explosion around Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, during a protest by anti-Fubara individuals in the state, as Mr. Preye Josiah.

She said that Josiah has been on police wanted list, stressing that he was still hospitalised following the injuries he sustained when he blew up himself.