Police to arraign Rivers bomber

The Rivers State Police Command says it has identified the prime suspect who detonated a dynamite near the Hotel Presidential adjacent to Aba Road in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on June 25, 2024.

The command named the suspect as 49-year-old Preye Josiah, from Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, saying he will be charged in court soon.

The spokesman for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday and sent to newsmen.

Iringe-Koko, also said the suspect has been on the police’s wanted list for his involvement in a series of bank robberies in Bayelsa State, adding that he is a member of a dreaded cult group called the Vikings

The suspect was severely injured with one of his hands chopped off after he detonated the dynamite during a protest in support of the occupation of the 23 LG secretariats of the state.

The incident followed the amendment of the State LG law by the Martin Amaewhule-led State House of Assembly which extended their tenure by six months due to the alleged failure of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to conduct the LG elections.

The police, however, revealed that the suspect’s health has improved significantly after undergoing three major operations.

The statement reads, “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’s 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,” among others were recovered by the police.

“Preye, who was evasive to police arrest, was identified as the dynamite detonating expert of the gang.

“The suspect had also informed operatives of the command that the explosion was a result of a 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 added.

Iringe-Koko said the state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, urged 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,” noting that they should call the police on dedicated lines already in the public domain in the event of any explosion for prompt action.

In a related development, the state PPRO 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, 2024.