The Rivers State Government has confirmed the detention of an unidentified man, suspected of detonating an Improvised Explosive Device near Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, is currently under custody.

The state Commissioner of Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, told journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, that the suspect was receiving treatment at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.

“The suspect suffered severe injuries from the explosion. He is being held at the 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 a 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.

Ms Adaeze explained that the medical personnel recognised that his condition did not align with injuries from a road accident but indicated signs of blast.

“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 state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, told journalists that the command 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 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 has confirmed the presence of IED residue. Soon, we will be able to confirm the kind of IED that was detonated,” he said.

Mr Disu stated that investigations were ongoing to determine whether the explosion was linked to Tuesday’s protests or an isolated incident. (NAN)