The suspected mastermind of the June 25, 2024 dynamite explosion near the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State remains on hospital admission two months after being injured in the incident.
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Orange-Koko, told our correspondent on Tuesday that the suspect, identified as Preye Josiah, is still on admission at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, with one of his arms, injured in the incident, amputated.
The suspect was said to have sustained life-threatening injuries when he attempted to detonate a dynamite near the Hotel Presidential along Ana Road in Port Harcourt in June.
The attack came during a protest in support of the police takeover of the 23 local government areas of the state.
The 49-year-old suspect was arrested at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital where he was rushed for treatment.
Giving an update on the case in an interview with The PUNCH, the police spokesperson in Rivers, Orange-Koko, said, “From what we know, he is still in the hospital undergoing treatment. You know one of his hands was amputated due to the injuries he sustained.”
When asked when the suspect would be arraigned, the police spokesperspn said, “The matter is still under investigation, but he will be arraigned and we will let you know when the time comes.”
The police spokesperson had in a statement in August said the suspect had been on the wanted list of the police for his involvement in a series of bank robberies in Bayelsa State.
The statement added that the suspect was a member of the Vikings, a dreaded cult group.
“Regarding the previous explosion that occurred along the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway on June 25, 2024, the arrested suspect who sustained serious bodily injuries and has since been undergoing treatment has been identified as Preye Josiah, alias Metusah, aged 40 years and a native of Kabiama community of Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa State.
“Investigations revealed that Preye Josiah has been on the police wanted list for participating in some high-profile bank robberies led by one Daniel Gogo, alias Full Payment, between 2012 and 2016, where three AK-47 rifles, a Lar rifle, 360 rounds of live ammunition, 20 magazines, five dynamites, two pistols, a rifle servicing equipment, and three exotic cars were recovered in Bayelsa State by operatives of the then IGP-IRT.
“Preye, who was evasive to police arrest, was identified as the dynamite detonating expert of the gang. The suspect had also informed operatives of the command that the explosion was a result of dynamite. He is a member of the Vikings Confraternity. Efforts are still ongoing to arrest others involved in the crime,” the police by the state police command read.