The suspect behind the June 25 dynamite explosion at the Rivers-owned Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt was on the police wanted list.

A dynamite explosion occurred on June 25 near  Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt during a protest over the tenure of the local government chairpersons.

SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the command, said in a statement on Sunday, “Preye Josiah has been on our wanted list prior to the incident.’

She said that the suspect, after detonating explosives and injuring himself in the blast, went to the hospital for treatment, where medical staff recognised him.

“Josiah, 40, from the Kabiama community of Sagbama Local Government Area, detonated the IED along the Port Harcourt–Aba Expressway.

“He was immediately arrested after the explosion and is receiving treatment for serious injuries,” she said.

Ms Iringe-Koko accused Mr Josiah of involvement in multiple armed robberies in Rivers from 2012 to 2016, including high-profile bank heists led by another suspect, Daniel Gogo, alias ‘Full Payment’.

“Previously evasive, Josiah has been identified as the dynamite detonating expert of the robbery gang and is a member of the Vikings Confraternity. He has confessed to detonating the dynamite at the Port Harcourt–Aba Expressway,” she added.

She said police detectives were actively pursuing leads to identify Mr Josiah’s accomplices and sponsors behind the explosion.

In a related development, the police disclosed details regarding the August 5 bombing of the Action Peoples Party (APP) secretariat in GRA Phase II, Port Harcourt.

Ms Iringe-Koko reported that two men planted and detonated the IED around 1:00 a.m. that day.

“Investigation revealed that the suspects exited a car, walked to the building, ignited the device, and threw it at the secretariate before driving off. Our Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) squad later identified a crater in front of the building where the device was placed, causing shockwaves and damaging the building,” she explained.

She said no casualties were reported, and samples of the IED residue have been collected for forensic analysis.

Ms Iringe-Koko stated that the command has intensified its efforts to apprehend those responsible for the attack. 

(NAN)