The Rivers State Police Command says it is investigating two explosions that rocked the city of Port Harcourt in the early hours of Saturday, during local government elections.
Spokesperson of the command, ASP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the police acknowledged the explosion at the Rivers All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat and another one at Rumuodumaya, the council headquarters of Obio/Akpor.
“The first explosion was reported at the APC Secretariat on Aba Road at approximately 3:00am. A security guard reported hearing a loud bang and, upon investigation, observed three black Toyota Hilux vans speeding away from the scene.
“The explosion caused significant damage, destroying the gate and shattering the windows of the building. Additionally, the security building was set ablaze.
“The second explosion occurred at the Obio/Akpor Council secretariat around 3:30 am. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a black Toyota Hilux van and a white Toyota Sienna minivan drive past the secretariat.
“The occupants of these vehicles allegedly threw an object, suspected to be a stick of dynamite, which shattered the roof and caused damage to the generator house of the complex,” Iringe-Koko added in a statement.
In response to these incidents, police said the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) and Anti-Bomb Squad have been mobilized to both locations.
According to the Command, an improvised explosive device (IED) was recovered at the APC secretariat, and the team has identified the use of incendiary materials in the arson of the security building.
The statement further said that the Command’s Explosive Ordinance Department has collected samples from both sites and is actively investigating the situation.