The suspect behind the June 25 dynamite explosion on the Rivers State-owned Resort Presidential in Port Harcourt has been recognized as 40-year-old Preye Josiah, with the police saying he will probably be prosecuted.
In an announcement on Sunday by its spokesman, Grace Iringe-Koko, the Rivers Police Command mentioned the suspect, whose one hand was chopped off in the course of the explosion, had already undergone three totally different surgical procedures on the Rivers State College Educating Hospital.
The PUNCH had reported {that a} dynamite explosion occurred on June 25 close to Resort Presidential in Port Harcourt throughout a protest by some individuals over the tenure of the native authorities chairmen within the state.
The state authorities, which condemned the incident, had instantly alerted all hospitals within the state to look out for any affected person with explosion accidents.
Lower than 24 hours later, the Rivers State College Educating Hospital alerted the state authorities to a affected person with explosion accidents introduced in unconscious by his associates.
The affected person was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit whereas the police deployed males to protect the hospital.
Within the assertion on Sunday, the police spokesman, Iringe-Koko, mentioned the suspect had recovered significantly and had been recognized as a member of the dreaded cult group, Vikkings, who had been on the police needed record for a very long time in reference to a sequence of financial institution robberies in Bayelsa State.
The police spokesman mentioned, “Concerning the earlier explosion that occurred alongside the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway on June 25, 2024, the arrested suspect, who sustained critical bodily accidents and has since been present process therapy, has been recognized as Preye Josiah, alias Metusah, aged 40 years and a local of Kabiama Neighborhood of Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa State.
“Investigations revealed that Preye Josiah has been on the police needed record for collaborating in some high-profile financial institution robberies led by one Daniel Gogo, alias Full Fee, between 2012 and 2016, the place three AK-47 rifles, a Lar rifle, 360 rounds of dwell ammunition, 20 magazines, 5 dynamites, two pistols, a rifle servicing tools, and three unique vehicles had been recovered in Bayelsa State by operatives of the then IGP-IRT.
“Preye, who was evasive to police arrest, was recognized because the dynamite detonating knowledgeable of the gang. The suspect has additionally knowledgeable operatives of the command that the explosion was a results of dynamite. He’s a member of the Vikings Confraternity. Efforts are nonetheless ongoing to arrest others concerned within the crime.
“Preye, who has undergone three main surgical procedures and has made a big restoration, will quickly be charged to a courtroom of competent jurisdiction after the investigations are accomplished.”
The assertion quoted the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, as urging “members of the general public to be vigilant when such instances of explosion happen and to avoid the neighborhood, as there’s a tendency of one other gadget being current.”
Iringe-Koko additionally urged members of the general public to name the police on a devoted line already within the public within the occasion of any explosion for immediate motion.
In a associated improvement, Iringe-Koko mentioned the command had intensified its investigation into the explosion that rocked the secretariat of the Motion Peoples Get together within the new GRA axis of Port Harcourt on August 12.
She mentioned operatives from the anti-bomb unit deployed within the scene recognized a crater created in entrance of the constructing the place the gadget was positioned, inflicting shockwaves and damaging the glass of the home windows and doorways.
The assertion added, “Eyewitness accounts across the time the explosion was heard revealed {that a} automotive had been parked a number of metres from the APP Secretariat, and two males had alighted from the automotive, walked to the constructing, and ignited the suspected gadget earlier than throwing it on the secretariat.
“They then bought again within the automobile and drove off.
“The invention of a crater and different items of proof, in addition to eyewitness accounts, point out the detonation of an explosive gadget.
“Fortunately, no lack of life was recorded, however injury was performed to the entrance of the constructing. Samples from the positioning of the explosion have been taken for additional forensic investigation.
“Operatives of the command have been detailed to accentuate efforts to analyze and apprehend all suspects concerned on this incident.”
