A suspected dynamite explosion shook the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign event in Port Harcourt on Thursday, sending members of the Rivers State chapter into a state of panic.
The explosion at the well-known Igboukwu field, also known as Ojukwu Playground, the location of the APC gathering in Port Harcourt, injured some party members who were present to varying degrees.
Women were observed escorting the injured victims away from the scene of the violent incident.
Although the cause of the explosion and potential perpetrators were unknown as of press time, it was learned that there had been a fight between young people from the Rumuji village and APC, who control the Igboukwu field.
The youths were said to have prevented the party from holding the rally at the field located at the popular Mile one area of densely populated Diobu in Port Harcourt.
The youths, it was learnt had barricaded and shut the entrance gate of the field thereby denying the party access to the field.
A resident of the area who pleaded anoymity said, “there was an explosion suspected to be dynamite. The explosion came with a loud bang and some persons were injured. The party officials had altercation with the youths of the community over access to the venue of the rally before the explosion occured,” the source said.
Rivers State Publicity Secretary of APC , Darlington Nwauju, could not pick his several calls. But Barr Sogboye Eli, spokesman of the APC campaign council confirmed the incident, adding that “the party will issue an official statement after preliminary investigation”.
Rivers State Police Command Public Relation Officer, SP Grace Iringe Koko did not also pick her calls.
