Saturday, August 22, 2026

Suspect in custody as bomb explodes in Bayelsa state secretariat

The state CP noted that normalcy had been restored.

• February 11, 2026
Bayelsa State Secretariat
Bayelsa State Secretariat

Operatives of the Bayelsa State Police Command, have arrested one Pentecost Elijah, over an IED explosion that occurred on Wednesday, at the State Secretariat Complex.

The command spokesperson, Musa Mohammed, in a statement, in Yenagoa, said operatives of the Explosive Ordinance Unit were able to contain the explosion and recovered one other unexploded device.

Mr Mohammed said, “The Bayelsa State Police Command wish to inform the general public of a suspected IED explosion which occurred today, 11th February 2026, at about 0600hrs within the State Secretariat Complex.

“The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command CP Iya Edebor psc, IICFIP, foosi, immediately led the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Unit, Special Drone Unit and other Tactical Teams to the scene. 

“On arrival at the scene the operatives of the Explosive Ordinance Unit swiftly contained the explosion. The area was immediately cordoned off and upon detailed search, one unexploded IED was indentified by EOD operatives and was rendered safe. No live lost, no property destroyed. 

“One Pentecost Elijah, ‘m’ 60 year old from Otuan Community in Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa State, was arrested at the scene in connection with the incident.”

Stating that the nabbed suspect was currently undergoing interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation Department, after which he would be charged to court, Mr Mohammed noted that normalcy had been restored. 

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

The U.S Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia

World

U.S. military fires publisher, top editor of Stars and Stripes reporting U.S. navy sailors’ travails

The newspaper’s publisher since 2007, Max Lederer, who had earlier this week announced his retirement in September, was also fired.

Atiku Abubakar

Heading 2

Atiku’s latest position on subsidy driven by political desperation, says ex-APC spokesman

Mr Oladejo noted that subsidy removal should not be reduced to a mere campaign slogan.

MultiChoice

NationWide

EPL: GOtv, DStv subscribers decry activation delay

One of the subscribers, Abuja Streets (@abujastreets) wrote on X on Friday that the EPL resumed but subscribers were stranded.

President Donald Trump and Mark Carney

World

Carney vows retaliation as Trump govt slams fresh 50% tariffs on Canadian goods

Mr Trump set a deadline for negotiations, but negotiators said they had yet to reach an agreement.

Gunmen

States

Terrorists storm Niger mosque during prayers, abduct worshippers

The police said security operatives had been deployed to the area for assessment and rescue operations.