PDP alleges ‘bombing’ of chieftain’s estate

*They’re sowing fears in Edo people –Govt

A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, alleged that his mini-estate has been bombed by unknown arsonists.

The affected building on Osadebey Avenue in G.R.A., Benin City that houses a clinic, Shalom Dental Clinic, and said to be managed by his wife allegedly suffered some broken ceilings, doors, windows and a little crater on the floor apart from a small bend on the gate. It allegedly occurred around 10.30pm on Saturday.

While the destruction was not as much as might be expected of bombing, nobody was however injured or killed even as the guard of the estate refused to speak to journalists.

Conducting some journalists round the mini-estate, Ize-Iyamu, who was accompanied by the Edo State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih and other top chieftains, blamed the attack on the State Governor and Government.

He further claimed that before the explosion, he obtained information that some leaders of the APC had assembled some youths to carry out attacks on the houses of select PDP leaders in the state. He did not state, however, whether he gave the information to the police or not.

But calling on the police to investigate the incident, Ize-Iyamu further alleged that his life was no longer safe.

Orbih described the incident as a grand design by their opponents to eliminate PDP leaders in the state for working to effect a change in the democratic leadership of the state legislature.

Briefing the press on the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, whose office is about 500 metres from the estate, said on receiving the report of the explosion at about 10.30pm, men of the special Anti-Bomb Squad and patrol vehicles were immediately drafted to the scene of the incident.

According to Adebanjo, preliminary police investigation showed that items suspected to be Improvised Explosive Devise, made up of two tiger batteries of 1.5volt each connected to a long wire, were thrown into the mini-estate from outside.

Adebanjo added that the explosion affected only ceiling boards at the estate security post and a part of the main gate and that the impact of the explosion dug a small hole at the entrance gate.

In a reaction titled: “PDPs amateurish self-attack reveals evil desperation”, Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Louis Odion, said the claim of a bomb attack and subsequent reckless press statement by Ize-Iyamu is another phase in what clearly has become the desperation of the PDP to spread falsehood and sow fear in the minds of the people of Edo State, with a view to simulate a crisis.

×