PORT HARCOURT – The Rivers State Police Command has unveiled the id of the prime suspect within the Port Harcourt explosion that occurred across the Lodge Presidential axis alongside the busy Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway in June 2024.
Public Relations Officer for the state police command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko on Sunday recognized the suspect as Mr. Preye Josiah, alias Metusah, including that the 40 years previous suspect is a local of Kabiama Group of Sagbama Native Authorities Space of Bayelsa state.
SP Iringe-Koko, in an announcement she signed on Sunday, disclosed that the suspect following investigation was linked to a number of excessive profiled crimes, noting that the suspect had been on the police wished checklist for a very long time.
Iringe-Koko stated, “Relating to the earlier explosion that occurred alongside the Port Harcourt – Aba Expressway on June twenty fifth, 2024, the arrested suspect who sustained severe 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 Group of Sagbama LGA.
“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 Cost, between 2012 and 2016, the place three AK47 rifles, a Lar rifle, 360 rounds of reside ammunition, 20 magazines, 5 dynamites, two pistols, a rifle servicing gear, and three unique vehicles 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 knowledgeable of the gang.
“The suspect had additionally knowledgeable operatives of the Command that the explosion was a results of a dynamite. He’s a member of the Vikings Confraternity. Efforts are nonetheless ongoing to arrest others concerned within the crime.
“Preye, who has undergone three main surgical procedures and has made a big restoration, will quickly be charged to a Courtroom of competent jurisdiction after the investigations are accomplished.
SP Iringe-Koko, quoted the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu to have urged members of the general public to at all times be vigilant and avoid explosion scenes, as there often is an inclination of a second explosive gadget current on the scene.
Disu, nevertheless, reeled out emergency cellphone numbers for members of the general public, ought to there be any case of explosion close to them.
“The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, CP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, urges members of the general public to be vigilant when such instances of explosion happen and to avoid the neighborhood, as there’s a tendency of one other gadget being current.
“Within the occasion of an explosion or suspicions of 1, the general public is suggested to name the police on the next numbers: 080362195230, 8032003514.”
In a associated growth, the police are actually trailing the arsonist that detonated an explosive gadget on the secretariat of the Motion Peoples Celebration, positioned in Tombia Extension, GRA Part 2, Port Harcourt.
The incident which occurred within the early hours of Monday, August 12, inflicting shockwaves that broken the glass of the home windows and doorways of the occasion workplace.
Disclosing preliminary investigation’s findings, the Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko stated eyewitness accounts revealed {that a} automotive was parked a number of meters from the occasion secretariat, including that two males later alighted from the automotive, walked to the constructing and ignited the suspected gadget earlier than throwing it on the secretariat.
SP Iringe-Koko made the disclosure in an announcement she signed on Sunday stated, “On August twelfth, 2024, at roughly 12:30 am, the Rivers State Police Command acquired a misery name reporting a loud explosion on the Motion Peoples Celebration (APP) secretariat positioned in Tombia Extension, GRA Part 2, Port Harcourt.
“The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, and a crew of tactical models with consultants from the Explosives Ordinance Disposal (EOD/Anti-Bomb) Squad had been instantly mobilized to the scene to evaluate the state of affairs.
“The crew cordoned off the realm and commenced Explosive Ordinance Disposal Procedures and search operations.
“The Command’s EOD consultants recognized a crater created in entrance of the constructing the place the gadget was positioned, inflicting shockwaves and damaging the glass of the home windows and doorways.
“Eyewitness accounts across the time the explosion was heard revealed {that a} automotive had been parked a number of meters from the APP Secretariat, and two males had alighted from the automotive, walked to the constructing, and ignited the suspected gadget earlier than throwing it on the secretariat. They then re-entered the car and drove off.
Talking additional, she stated, “The invention of a crater and different items of proof, in addition to eyewitness accounts, point out the detonation of an explosive gadget.
“Fortunately, no lack of life was recorded, however injury was achieved 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 accentuate efforts to research and apprehend all suspects concerned on this incident.”
