Rivers explosion: Police plan suspect’s trial after three surgeries

The suspect behind the June 25 dynamite explosion at the Rivers State-owned Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt has been identified as  40-year-old Preye Josiah, with the police saying he will be prosecuted.

In a statement on Sunday by its spokesman,  Grace Iringe-Koko, the Rivers Police Command said the suspect, whose one hand was chopped off during the explosion, had already undergone three different surgeries at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.

The PUNCH had reported that a dynamite explosion happened on June 25 near  Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt during a protest by some persons over the tenure of the local government chairmen in the state.

The state government, which condemned the incident, had immediately alerted all hospitals in the state to look out for any patient with explosion injuries.

Less than 24 hours later, the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital alerted the state government to a patient with explosion injuries brought in unconscious by his associates.

The patient was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit while the police deployed men to guard the hospital.

In the statement on Sunday, the police spokesman, Iringe-Koko, said the suspect had recovered considerably and had been identified as a member of the dreaded cult group, Vikkings, who had been on the police wanted list for a long time in connection with a series of bank robberies in Bayelsa State.

The police spokesman said, “Regarding the previous explosion that occurred along the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway on June 25, 2024, the arrested suspect, who sustained serious bodily injuries and has since been undergoing treatment, has been identified as Preye Josiah, alias Metusah, aged 40 years and a native of Kabiama Community of Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa State.

“Investigations revealed that Preye Josiah has been on the police wanted list for participating in some high-profile bank robberies led by one Daniel Gogo, alias Full Payment, between 2012 and 2016, where three AK-47 rifles, a Lar rifle, 360 rounds of live ammunition, 20 magazines, five dynamites, two pistols, a rifle servicing equipment, and three exotic cars were recovered in Bayelsa State by operatives of the then IGP-IRT.

“Preye, who was evasive to police arrest, was identified as the dynamite detonating expert of the gang. The suspect has also informed operatives of the command that the explosion was a result of dynamite. He is a member of the Vikings Confraternity. Efforts are still ongoing to arrest others involved in the crime.

“Preye, who has undergone three major surgeries and has made a significant recovery, will soon be charged to a court of competent jurisdiction after the investigations are completed.”

The statement quoted the  Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, as urging “members of the public to be vigilant when such cases of explosion occur and to steer clear of the vicinity, as there is a tendency of another device being present.”

Iringe-Koko also urged members of the public to call the police on a dedicated line already in the public in the event of any explosion for prompt action.

In a related development, Iringe-Koko said the command had intensified its investigation into the explosion that rocked the secretariat of the Action Peoples Party in the new GRA axis of Port Harcourt on August 12.

She said operatives from the anti-bomb unit deployed in the scene identified a crater created in front of the building where the device was placed, causing shockwaves and damaging the glass of the windows and doors.

The statement added, “Eyewitness accounts around the time the explosion was heard revealed that a car had been parked a few metres from the APP Secretariat, and two men had alighted from the car, walked to the building, and ignited the suspected device before throwing it at the secretariat.

“They then got back in the vehicle and drove off.

“The discovery of a crater and other pieces of evidence, as well as eyewitness accounts, indicate the detonation of an explosive device.

“Thankfully, no loss of life was recorded, but damage was done to the front of the building. Samples from the site of the explosion have been taken for further forensic investigation.

“Operatives of the command have been detailed to intensify efforts to investigate and apprehend all suspects involved in this incident.”