• Party’s national chairman: It’s an act of terrorism
• CP Disu, others visit bombed facility
The Police Command in Rivers State has confirmed the detonation of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the Action Peoples Party (APP) secretariat in Port Harcourt.
The explosion occurred around 1 a.m. yesterday, causing significant damage to the building.
SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the Police Public Relations Officer in Rivers, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that no lives were lost in the incident.
She said the command’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit had been deployed to sweep the scene.
“We are aware of the explosion at APP secretariat and our bomb unit has been dispatched to ascertain what happened.
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“No life was lost and investigation is underway.
“We will share the findings with the public soon,” she confirmed.
The police image maker said the Police Commissioner in Rivers, Olatunji Disu, and his management team also visited the scene to assess the damage.
National Chairman, APP, Uchenna Nnadi, has condemned the bombing, describing it as a “heinous act of terrorism” and “treasonable act”.
Speaking at the scene of the incident yesterday, Nnadi said it occurred after a strategic stakeholders’ meeting at the secretariat on Sunday night.
He said: “It is actually a sad day for democracy. We condemn in strongest terms the act of bombing our Rivers State Chapter Secretariat. It is a heinous act, it is an act of terrorism, it is a treasonable act.
“We thank God almighty who spared the lives of our members. Immediately they left after a strategic meeting in the dead of the night this heinous act was carried out.
“We are all aware of what is happening in Rivers State that it is all about seizing the treasury of Rivers State. We know this is not the first time this act of terrorism has happened, we have had incidents of bombing before.”
Nnadi called on President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to go after the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
The APP boss assured that the party would not be deterred and urged members and supporters to rally round the party.
Also, the State Chairman APP, Sunny Wokekoro, said: “We will not be deterred by this barbaric act. It’s a clear indication that we’re doing the right thing and that our opponents are running out of options.”
Wokekoro emphasised that the party’s supporters remained undaunted, adding that the attack had only galvanised their determination to bring about change in Rivers.
He also took a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying they were struggling to come to terms with the fact that the APP was gaining momentum.
He said: “PDP has emptied into APP. They’re totally emptied, and the earlier they understand that, the better for them.The people are against them, the time is against them, and most importantly, God is against them. We will not be intimidated.”
Wokekoro commended Disu for his prompt response to the incident and expressed confidence that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
Disu, who visited the scene of the bombing for an on-the-spot assessment, promised a thorough investigation.
Disu said his team was deployed in the area immediately after the incident, and a bomb squad was sent to assess the situation.
He said: “I’m waiting for their report,” he said, “and I don’t want to speculate until I have all the facts.”
The commissioner emphasised the importance of security and safety, urging everyone to take responsibility for their own protection.
He said: “Everybody should be concerned about their safety and security. I do not want to go deep down into somethings that I do not want to mention now, but most importantly everybody has to take their security seriously.”
Disu praised his team for quickly securing the area and preventing potential further attacks.
He added: “When there’s an explosion, there’s always a risk of another one,” he explained. “So, we moved people away from the scene and ensured the area was safe.”