Police Confirm Bomb Explosion In Benin

Bomb explosion reportedly rocked Dennis Osadebey Avenue, in the ancient city of Benin, Edo State capital.
The state Police Command Deputy Public Relations Officer, Ejiroro Ahwara, who confirmed the bomb blast in a statement issued in Benin on October 19, 2014, Sunday, said the incident at Shalom Dental Clinic occurred on Saturday night.

The clinic belongs to the wife of PDP leader in the state Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Edo PDP Accuses APC Of Assassination Plot

Ahwara, revealed that the command received information at about 10.30pm on Saturday that an explosion occurred at Dennis Osadebey Avenue in Benin City.

The force spokesman said officials of the Special Anti-Bomb Squad and patrol vehicles were swiftly deployed to the scene of the bomb blast.

Ahwara said preliminary investigation showed that the items suspected to be Improvised Explosive Device (IED), were made up of two tiger batteries of 15 volt each connected to long wire, was thrown from outside into the mini-estate.

He said the impact of the explosion affected part of the estate main gate as well as the ceiling boards at the security post of the estate.

Oshiomhole Debunks Presidential Ambition
The command spokesman further explained that the impact of the explosion also dug a small hole at the entrance gate, and revealed that no life was lost in the incident.

“The IED used in the attack has been recovered by the Bomb Disposal Unit for analysis, while some suspects have been arrested,” Ahwara said.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole was immediately accused by PDP members and Mr Ize-Iyamu himself of masterminding the bomb attack.

However, the authorites of Edo state debunked the claims, described them as an indication of desperation of the PDP to “spread falsehood and sow fear in the minds of the people of Edo State with a view to simulating a crisis”.

Edo State has become very apprehensive following the crisis rocking the state’s house of assembly. It would be recalled that the city was reportedly under intense tension on Thursday, 16 October, 2014, over the arrest of the speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Uyi Igbe, the Majority Leader of the House, Philip Shaibu, and the Chief Whip, Folly Ogedengbe, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Abuja.