Rivers crisis: Prime suspect in explosion arrested in hospital

The Rivers government says a protester who was allegedly injured from an explosion on Tuesday has been detained.

The explosion was said to have occurred on Tuesday near Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.

The injured protester was among political leaders who held a protest march in support of the decision of police officers to occupy the 23 Rivers LGA secretariats.

Police have been occupying the LGA headquarters 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 public and private 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 sustained the injuries from 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.”