Bomb Goes Off At APC Rally, As Sporadic Gunshots Follow
According to source, this has caused a stampede at the venue
of the rally, as people gathering for the rally scampered for safety.
A reporter from the TV station, Charles Eruka, who was presently on ground at the venue was seen on Live TV lying down while giving situation reports.
He said, while lying down:
“We were at the National Secondary School when we heard series of explosions but when the crowd had the confidence to return because security agents had taken control of the situation
“But when the gunshots started, of course everybody took their heels. But we are still here trying to find out what is going on. We can’t see the shooters apart from armed security personnel. But we can hear gunfire in the background behind the buildings here.
“The security agents are trying to make sure that people are whisked to safety. Some of the things that were left behind at the VIP areas are also being carried away to safety. The security agents have secured those in the VIP stand while most of us are lying on the floor.”
The station was actually billed to broadcast the rally live. It is
not clear while the reporter was lying on the floor, but reports say
there were sporadic shootings after the explosions went off.
UPDATE: Foreign media sources (BBC, AFP) inform a small IED was detonated, but there were no serious injuries / casualties.
Unknown gunmen were said to have stormed the venue after the explosion and started shooting sporadically. The governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, was whisked away by security operatives as the gunshots rented the air at the campaign ground at the Okrika National Secondary School Field.
The party supporters, in their numbers, had gathered at the venue and were waiting for the leaders of the party in the state to arrive the venue of the rally.
The explosion had caused an abrupt end to the proposed rally, but party chieftains decided to go on with the rally before the gunshots incident finally brough the rally to an end.
According to the BBC Africa, the APC says fifty people have been injured in a blast. Several Improvised Explosive Devices went off close to the rally ground of the All Progressives Congress Party.
Okirika is the home of Nigeria’s first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.
source naij.com
A reporter from the TV station, Charles Eruka, who was presently on ground at the venue was seen on Live TV lying down while giving situation reports.
He said, while lying down:
“We were at the National Secondary School when we heard series of explosions but when the crowd had the confidence to return because security agents had taken control of the situation
“But when the gunshots started, of course everybody took their heels. But we are still here trying to find out what is going on. We can’t see the shooters apart from armed security personnel. But we can hear gunfire in the background behind the buildings here.
“The security agents are trying to make sure that people are whisked to safety. Some of the things that were left behind at the VIP areas are also being carried away to safety. The security agents have secured those in the VIP stand while most of us are lying on the floor.”
Charles Eruka reporting live even while on the ground
UPDATE: Foreign media sources (BBC, AFP) inform a small IED was detonated, but there were no serious injuries / casualties.
Unknown gunmen were said to have stormed the venue after the explosion and started shooting sporadically. The governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, was whisked away by security operatives as the gunshots rented the air at the campaign ground at the Okrika National Secondary School Field.
The party supporters, in their numbers, had gathered at the venue and were waiting for the leaders of the party in the state to arrive the venue of the rally.
The explosion had caused an abrupt end to the proposed rally, but party chieftains decided to go on with the rally before the gunshots incident finally brough the rally to an end.
According to the BBC Africa, the APC says fifty people have been injured in a blast. Several Improvised Explosive Devices went off close to the rally ground of the All Progressives Congress Party.
Okirika is the home of Nigeria’s first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.
source naij.com
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