Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
Port Harcourt, Nigeria – The Rivers State Police Command has identified and arrested the prime suspect responsible for the June 25, 2024, dynamite explosion near Hotel Presidential on Aba Road in Port Harcourt.
The suspect, 49-year-old Preye Josiah from Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, is set to be arraigned in court soon.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
The statement was also sent to news agencies. According to Iringe-Koko, Josiah, who had been on the police’s wanted list for his involvement in multiple bank robberies in Bayelsa State, is a known member of the notorious Vikings cult group.
Josiah sustained severe injuries, including the loss of one of his hands, after detonating the dynamite during a protest supporting the occupation of the state’s 23 local government secretariats.
The protest followed the factional Rivers State House of Assembly’s amendment of the Local Government Law, which extended the tenure of council officials by six months due to Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s alleged failure to conduct local government elections.
The police revealed that Josiah’s health has improved significantly after undergoing three major surgeries. He is expected to be charged in court once investigations are completed.
The statement further disclosed that Josiah, also known as “Metusah,” had been involved in high-profile bank robberies led by a notorious criminal, Daniel Gogo, alias “Full Payment,” between 2012 and 2016. During these operations, the police recovered several weapons, including three AK-47 rifles, a Lar rifle, 360 rounds of live ammunition, 20 magazines, five dynamites, and two pistols. Josiah was identified as the gang’s dynamite expert.
Iringe-Koko added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspects connected to the crime. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, has urged the public to remain vigilant in the event of explosions and to steer clear of affected areas, warning of the potential presence of additional explosive devices. The public is advised to contact the police immediately if they encounter any suspicious activities.
In a related development, the police command has intensified its investigation into the August 12, 2024, explosion at the Action Peoples Party Secretariat in the new GRA area of Port Harcourt.
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