NIGERIA - UNKNOWN MEN BOMB HOME OF THE SPEAKER OF BAYELSA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

SPEAKER KOMBOWEI BENSON

Yesterday, January 7TH, the home of Hon. Kombowei Benson, the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly in the Korokorosei Community, Bayelsa State was bombed by unknown men who attacked the residence at around 4am. This information was confirmed by the Bayelsa State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Asinim Butswat.

The Speaker’s home attacked is that in his hometown in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state. The attackers presently unknown were reported to have thrown in dynamite into the building which they then went ahead to detonate. No life was lost in the incident but reports state that the resultant impact of the explosion left the building in a damaged state with shattered doors and windows.

The Police PRO said the police after the explosion dispatched their Explosive ordnance Disposal unit (EOD) team to the scene for a thorough investigation while efforts were on to apprehend those responsible for the act.

Speaking on the incident, the Speaker of the House said he was at his house in Yenagoa, the State capital when his wife received a phone call that their country home had been attacked. He said that he was over the shock occasioned by the news and was up to the task to ensure his party; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the governorship election in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state which was rescheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Saturday, January 9, 2016.

The speaker who attributed the bomb attack on his home to the political tension of the forthcoming governorship election said he was not taken by surprise as there had been threats issued to assassinate him or members of his family before then.

Bayelsa State continues to be in a tense situation as the state prepares for the rescheduled election takes place tomorrow January 9TH, it is sort of a battle between the sitting PDP Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson and the APC candidate, Timipre Sylva as they fight for the Government House Yenagoa and the mandate of the Bayelsans. It is only the hope of all that the elction comes and goes peacefully without resulting in the wanton destruction of life and property.

Let the example set by the former President Goodluck Jonathan find acceptance in his home state and help to enthrone true and enduring democracy in Bayelsa State.

Tomorrow shall tell!