Explosion Rocks Nwodo’s Country Home

  • I’m undeterred, says Ohanaeze
  • president-general   PDP,  Ekweremadu condemn attack 

By Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu

The country home of the President General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, in Ukehe, Igboetiti Local Government Area of Enugu State was yesterday bombed by some yet-to-be identified persons.

Nwodo confirmed the incident in a statement made available to journalists by his Media Adviser, Chief Emeka Atamah, in Enugu.

According to the statement, a closer look by the Police Bomb Disposal Unit suggested it was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that was hurled over the fence into the compound causing extensive damage to  the windows, the ceiling of one of the houses in the compound and an air-conditioning unit.

THISDAY checks showed that nobody sustained any injury when the explosion occurred.

The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Mohammed, accompanied by the Area Commander for Nsukka Police Command and the Divisional Police Officer for Igbo Etiti Local Government Area, arrived early at the scene of the incident which created a crater in the compound for inspection.

Addressing the people who trooped to Nwodo’s home, the police commissioner enjoined them to always be vigilant and to  report any strange faces to security operatives.

Danmallam who described the state as very peaceful, wondered why some miscreants would be after the life of Nwodo whom he said is only serving his people,  adding that what happened was a sign for the need for greater security around him.

The commissioner ordered that security be beefed up in and around the compound and promised that the perpetrators would soon be identified and brought to justice.

Earlier, the Commander of the Bomb Disposal Unit, John Aniche, had briefed the Ccommissioner and Nwodo on the items they collected from the scene including batteries, pellets and other materials used in preparing the IED and said they would be carefully scrutinised and analysed.

Welcoming the commissioner to his home, Nwodo expressed surprise that anybody would be after his life but added that the incidence would not deter him from leading his people.

He thanked the police boss for his prompt response to the incident.

In his speech, the traditional ruler of Umudele in Ukehe, Igwe Lawrence Aroh, thanked God for saving the life of the President General.

He wondered why some bad elements would constitute danger to others in a country bountifully endowed by nature.

The traditional ruler assured the commissioner that the people would be extra-vigilant and that any such attempt in the future would be nipped in the bud.

Later, the state Director of DSS,  Mrs  E A Likiyon, came to see the scene of the explosion.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and  Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, have condemned the bombing in strong terms.

The party described the action of the arsonists as callous, horrendous and wicked.

It called on security agencies to unravel the identities of the masked characters behind the dastardly act.

“All our security agencies must swing into action and arrest the culprits to serve as deterrent to others.

“Our country cannot afford another form of criminality in view of the psychological trauma Nigerians are going through with bloodletting and killings in many states of the federation.”

On his part, Ekweremadu said: “This is a dastardly act. It is certainly ugly, evil, and outrageous. I roundly condemn it. This is quite an unusual development in the South-east and we will not accept it.

“I call on the security agencies to get to the root of this devilish act and ensure that the culprits and masterminds are brought to book immediately.”

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