August 19, (THEWILL) – The Rivers State Police Command has said the suspect behind the June 25, dynamite explosion at the Rivers State-owned Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, Preye Josiah, is a dynamite detonating expert of a robbery gang.
THEWILL had reported a dynamite explosion near Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt on June 25.
In an update on Sunday, the Spokesperson of the State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the suspect (Preye Josiah) was on its ‘Wanted List” for armed robbery before the incident.
Iringe-Koko said after detonating the explosives and injuring himself in the blast, Josiah went to the hospital for treatment, where medical staff recognised him.
“Josiah, 40, from Kabiama community of Sagbama Local Government Area, detonated the IED along the Port Harcourt–Aba Expressway. He was immediately arrested after the explosion and is receiving treatment for serious injuries,” she said.
Iringe-Koko accused Josiah of involvement in multiple armed robberies in the state from 2012 and 2016, including high-profile bank heists led by one Daniel Gogo, alias Full Payment.
“Previously evasive, Josiah has been identified as the dynamite detonating expert of the robbery gang and is a member of the Vikings Confraternity. He has confessed to detonating the dynamite at the Port Harcourt–Aba Expressway,” she added.
She said that police detectives were actively pursuing leads to identify Josiah’s accomplices and sponsors behind the explosion.
In a related development, the police disclosed details regarding the August 5 bombing of the Action Peoples Party (APP) secretariat in GRA Phase II, Port Harcourt.
Iringe-Koko said, “Two men planted and detonated the IED around 1 a.m. that day. Investigation revealed that the suspects exited a car, walked to the building, ignited the device, and threw it at the secretariat before driving off.
“Our Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) squad later identified a crater in front of the building where the device was placed, causing shockwaves and damaging the building.”
She said samples of the IED residue have been collected for forensic analysis.
The Rivers Police image maker said the command has intensified its efforts to apprehend those behind the attack.
