The Police in Rivers State, has confirmed an explosion in the popular mile 3 market in Port Harcourt on Monday morning. The incident which reportedly occurred around 6:30 am fortunately did not result to any lost of life, but the explosion left many persons injured. A source within the market area gave an account of the incident. He said the unfortunate explosion caused panic in the market as traders and commuters scampered for safety. The police spokesman in the state, superintendent of police Nnamdi Omoni, in a statement on Monday said police officers from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) were immediately dispatched to the scene to ascertain what transpired, sweep and also render the market safe.
“A locally fabricated dynamite exploded when one Mrs. Ifemia Aloke, popularly known as ‘mama Joy’ opened her fish shop, inflicting injuries on her son and one other young lady who are currently receiving medical attention.
“No life was lost in the incident,” the police spokesperson in the state, Nnamdi Omoni, added.
Normal trading activities resumed immediately in the market, Mr. Omoni said.
“In the meantime, the Commissioner of Police, Eboka Friday, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident with a view to ascertaining the cause of the explosion and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
“He wishes to reassure the good people of the State that the State is generally calm and they should go about their lawful activities uninterrupted and without fear of molestation from any quarters,” The police spokesman said.
It is however unclear if the explosion has any link with the sit-at-home order by the proscribed IPOB group.
The order has received massive compliance from residents of the South-east region.
The IPOB’s order has not been infective in Rivers, despite the group’s claim that the oil-rich state is part of the “Biafran territory”.
