By Charles Igbo
Not a few Nigerians were shocked on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, when an explosive device was detonated in front of Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The questions were why?, and how? To detonate an explosive in front of the Hotel is serious, especially, as it happened when Federal Lawmakers, on an oversight assignment, were lodged in the Hotel, not to forget that the area is a very busy area.
Whoever was (were) responsible for that wanted it to have a maximum effect.
However, the opposite was the case. A twist of fate set in. As the bomb exploded, the alleged bomber was the most affected and serious victim.
Semi-conscious, he was quickly spirited away by his “colleagues” in the destabilisation business of Rivers State. Nobody, as at then, knew his identity.
But to effect his arrest, the Rivers State Government played smart. Its Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, issued an order and alerted all Health Facilities in the State to be on the watch out for any person with explosive-related injuries and report to both the State Government and the Police State Command.
That did the magic. His friends took him to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital where they dumped him and lied that he was a victim of a traffic accident. They disappeared.
A look at him, and the medical team confirmed they lied. As soon as he was stabilised, they reported as was requested.
On Saturday, June 29, the State Government made public the bomber’s identity. In a statement signed by Nelson Chukwudi, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the suspected bomber was identified as Josiah Preye, University graduate, and an alleged supporter of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. He is, also, a staff of Sky Packing Materials Trd: LLC, and a Port Harcourt resident.
Proof: A video released by the Government showed Preye actively participating in a pro-Wike protest in Port Harcourt same day as the incident took place, and also showed him lying down on his hospital bed.
Wike and Fubara are engaged in a messy fight over the control of the State.
Following, full text of the statement released by the Rivers State Government.
BUSTED: ASSOCIATES OF RIVERS FAILED BOMBER, JOSIAH PREYE
“On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, ardent loyalists of the former Governor of Rivers State and Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, entered Day 2 of their so-called pro-police protest to press home a smokescreen of the veiled narrative that they support the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) decision to barricade and deny staff and officials of the third tier of government in the 23 local government areas access to their offices to perform their constitutional duties and advance democracy in the state and country.
“The narrative was anchored on their agitation for tenure elongation by six months for the former elected local government chairmen and councillors, whose statutory three-year term had expired at midnight of June 17, 2024, and therefore, constitutionally barred from continuing to serve in that capacity, except their mandates are renewed through a fresh election, and are sworn-in again after taking a new oath of office administered by appropriate judicial officer.
“But for a group, which claimed that they were on the side of the law, and embarking on ‘peaceful’ protest in support of law enforcement agents, to hire, empower and embolden thugs, suicide bombers, cultists, anarchists, and all manner of criminals, does not add up.
“This is Josiah Preye, hired together with other thugs, cultists, anarchists, and violent extremists, all sponsored by the likes of former Speaker, state House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule; member representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, former Obio/Akpor Local Government Council chairman, Barrister George Ariolu; Chief of Staff to FCT Minister, Chidi Amadi; President General of GDI, Bright Amaewhule; Timothy alias General Whosky; among others; who are all core unrepentant loyalists of Nyesom Wike.
“Josiah Preye was part of the protest on Monday – Day 1 of the protest – and on Day 2, he is seen in this video carrying improvised explosive device, with specific instructions on how to use, where and when to detonate the device.
“He is one, among others, in the crowd paid by the sponsors of the evil protest to cause anarchy and chaos in the state with the major aim of justifying their call for a state of emergency in Rivers State, so that they can usurp power from the back door, since they know that Rivers people have rejected them in their various positions.
“Again, their ploy was to create pandemonium with the explosive device while they matched the streets to demand for tenure elongation for local government chairmen who had served out their statutory three-year tenure.
“They chose near Hotel Presidential on the very busy Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway, where some Senators and House of Representatives committee members on oversight functions in the State were lodging, to detonate the device but it failed. Nemesis rather caught up with Josiah Preye, and the explosive devise caused severe harm and injuries to the hunter – Josiah Preye. The hunter is now the hunted, Josiah Preye is now battling with karma, and the God who sees the hearts of the wicked and unleashes vengeance against their evil plots, is fighting for the innocents and real law-abiding citizens and liberated residents of the state.
“Their plan to get reason to support their call for a state of emergency and scuttle the God-ordained administration currently providing good governance and dividends of democracy to the people of the State, failed woefully.
“And by the special grace of God, they will continue to fail and falter.
“Security agencies should act now, and bring all those involved in the failed bombing in Port Harcourt to face justice.
“Josiah Preye is a graduate of Imo State University, Owerri; works at Sky Packing Materials Trd: LLC, and lives in Port Harcourt.”
