The Rivers State Government has revealed the arrest of the suspected mastermind behind the explosion near Hotel Presidential on Tuesday.
The explosion was said to have occurred at the hotel where members of the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, who were in the state on oversight function, were staying. The committee was led by its chairman and former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzoh Kalu.
The suspect was said to have been injured while trying to detonate a dynamite close to the facility. He was among political leaders who held a protest march in support of the decision of police officers to occupy the 23 local council headquarters in River.
Police have been occupying the secretariats, following the crisis that ensued over the tenure of elected chairpersons.
During the protest march, an explosion was said to have occurred at the scene, which left some protesters injured.
After the incident, Adaeze Oreh, the Commissioner for Health, asked medical facilities in the state to identify persons who visited their facilities with bodily injuries.
Confirming the arrest on Wednesday, Oreh told journalists that the suspect was receiving treatment at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).
The health commissioner said the suspect was brought to the hospital with the claim that he was injured in a road accident.
“The suspect suffered severe injuries from the explosion, he is being held at RSUTH following our alert to all healthcare facilities across the state,” she said.
“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.
“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.”
