The suspect behind the June 25 dynamite explosion on the Rivers State-owned Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt has been recognized as 40-year-old Preye Josiah, with the police saying he shall be prosecuted.
In a press release on Sunday by its spokesman, Grace Iringe-Koko, the Rivers Police Command stated the suspect, whose one hand was chopped off in the course of the explosion, had already undergone three completely different surgical procedures on the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.
The PUNCH had reported {that a} dynamite explosion occurred on June 25 close to Hotel 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.
Less than 24 hours later, the Rivers State University Teaching 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.
In the assertion on Sunday, the police spokesman, Iringe-Koko, stated the suspect had recovered significantly and had been recognized as a member of the dreaded cult group, Vikkings, who had been on the police wished checklist for a very long time in reference to a sequence of financial institution robberies in Bayelsa State.
The police spokesman stated, “Regarding 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 Community of Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa State.
“Investigations revealed that Preye Josiah has been on the police wished checklist for collaborating in some high-profile financial institution robberies led by one Daniel Gogo, alias Full Payment, 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 automobiles 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 skilled of the gang. The suspect has additionally knowledgeable operatives of the command that the explosion was a results of dynamite. He is a member of the Vikings Confraternity. Efforts are nonetheless ongoing to arrest others concerned within the crime.
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“Preye, who has undergone three major surgeries and has made a significant recovery, will soon be charged to a court of competent jurisdiction after the investigations are completed.”
The assertion quoted the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, as urging “members of the public to be vigilant when such cases of explosion occur and to steer clear of the vicinity, as there is a tendency of another device being present.”
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 growth, Iringe-Koko stated the command had intensified its investigation into the explosion that rocked the secretariat of the Action Peoples Party within the new GRA axis of Port Harcourt on August 12.
She stated operatives from the anti-bomb unit deployed within the scene recognized a crater created in entrance of the constructing the place the system 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 couple of metres from the APP Secretariat, and two males had alighted from the automotive, walked to the constructing, and ignited the suspected system earlier than throwing it on the secretariat.
“They then received again within the automobile and drove off.
“The discovery of a crater and different items of proof, in addition to eyewitness accounts, point out the detonation of an explosive system.
“Thankfully, no lack of life was recorded, however injury was carried out 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 intensify efforts to investigate and apprehend all suspects involved in this incident.”