There was a bomb explosion at the national headquarters of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, located at No 7 Park Avenue, GRA, Enugu on Saturday, January 24.
The explosion destroyed parts of the building like parts of the main hall of the Ohanaeze secretariat where major meetings of the body are held and some other important items, Leadership reports.
The explosion which was said to have been caused by unknown persons with objects suspected to be Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) also caused a fire outbreak but it was swiftly put out.
Though no life was lost, sources said the explosion went out with a bang that shook the entire vicinity, causing fear and panic.
One of the staff of the secretariat, a caretaker, said: “this thing happened on Saturday night at about 9p.m, and I heard a loud noise and when I ran out, I saw smoke at the hall and my mate joined me and we ran to the place.
“As we reached the place, we saw one boy running from this window and climbed this wire on the fence. The glass window broke before, so, I feel he entered through that place.”
The blast has been attributed by many to the leadership crisis rocking the organisation.
The crisis is between the Enwo Igariwey-led leadership and the Elders Council of Ohanaeze led by elder statesman, Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi.
The group’s executive body is claiming a 4-year tenure but the elders’ council has insisted that the exco’s two-year tenure expired on January 7 this year. Therefore, the elders’ council of the organisation led by Chief Amaechi had reportedly constituted a caretaker committee with Chief Ralph Obioha as chairman.
However, Chief Igariwey, the President-General is still laying claim to his position insisting that he had a four-year mandate and not two years as some people claimed.
Chief Obioha, who inspected the Ohanaeze main hall after the explosion yesterday, described it as an unfortunate incident.
“I have inspected the place it’s quite an extensive damage. I can’t guess the motive or why such an attack should be targeted at Ohanaeze. It is a mystery and I condemn it in its entirety. It’s actually a bomb issue but the motive cannot be explained,” he said.
Also commenting, the embattled Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Dr. Joe Nworgu, said: “I don’t know the choice of that target whatsoever; It happened at about 8:45p.m; I was alerted at about 8:55p.m. It is unfortunate.”
But the public relations officer, Enugu State Police Command, Ebere Amaraizu, said that it was not a bomb attack but a failed attempt by unknown persons to bring down the Ohanaeze building.
He said the police had already swung into action to find the perpetrators and the motive.
Recall that the Nigerian police had about a month ago discovered and defused two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted at a popular eatery located around the Ikenegbu area of Owerri, Imo state.
by naijnews
No comments:
Post a Comment