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The Rivers State Government has confirmed the detention of an unidentified man suspected of detonating an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. The suspect is currently in custody.
Adaeze Oreh, the Commissioner of Health, told journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that the suspect was receiving treatment at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).
“The suspect suffered severe injuries from the explosion, and he is being held at RSUTH following our alert to all healthcare facilities across the state.
“We urged our facilities to report individuals who present themselves with any injury suggestive of traumatic amputation of an upper limb. So, when a young man was brought to RSUTH with injuries supposedly from a road accident, medical staff raised suspicions,” she said.
Adaeze explained that medical personnel recognized that his condition did not align with injuries from a road accident but indicated signs of blast trauma.
“So, the patient was immediately taken to the theatre for urgent resuscitation due to his semi-conscious state, with the Ministry of Health and Commissioner of Police promptly notified.
“At the moment, the suspect is receiving medical care, and he is in a stable condition now.
“We are working closely with the police, who have secured both the suspect and the hospital, while conducting necessary investigations,” the commissioner added.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers, Mr. Olatunji Disu, told newsmen that the command had received information about four individuals who parked a white Corolla vehicle on Aba Road and detonated an IED.
He said that two of the suspects sustained severe injuries and fled the scene after the explosion.
“Consequently, we have urged all police units within the state to be on the lookout for the suspects, including healthcare facilities.
“Our bomb squad has gathered particles from the blast site and confirmed the presence of IED residue.
“Soon, we will be able to confirm the kind of IED that was detonated,” he said.
Disu stated that investigations were ongoing to determine whether the explosion was linked to Tuesday’s protests or an isolated incident.
