House of Bayelsa assembly speaker ‘bombed’

Unknown persons detonated explosives inside the house of Kombowei Benson, speaker of the Bayelsa state house of assembly on Thursday.

Asinim Butswat, police public relations officer (PPRO) of the state, confirmed the attack, saying it occurred in the hometown of the lawmaker in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.

Butswat said the police was on the trail of those behind the incident.

“On the 7/1/2016, at about 0405hrs, unknown persons detonated an object suspected to be dynamite in the compound of Hon Kombowei Benson, at Korokorosei community,” Butswat said in a statement.

“The impact resulted to damage to the doors, windows and glasses in his residence. Nobody was injured and no life was lost.

“The scene was visited and a team of Explosive ordnance Disposal unit (EOD) is conducting post blast Investigations. Efforts have been intensified to arrest the culprits.”

Benson, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has blamed the attack on his political opponents.

Speaking on a radio programme in Yenagoa, capital of the state, the lawmaker said he was alerted on the attack through telephone.

“I was asleep in my house in Yenagoa when my wife’s phone rang and we recieved a message was that they have thrown dynamite into my house,” he said.

“It’s not unexpected because they have promised to assassinate me or my family members.”

There is tension in parts of the state ahead of Saturday’s rerun election in Southern Ijaw and some polling units across Bayelsa.