Bomb Explosion Rocks Secretariat In Enugu

There was a bomb explosion at the national headquarters of the
apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo,
located at No 7 Park Avenue, GRA, Enugu on Saturday, January
24.
The explosion destroyed parts of the building like parts of the
main hall of the Ohanaeze secretariat where major meetings of
the body are held and some other important items, Leadership
reports.
The explosion which was said to have been caused by unknown
persons with objects suspected to be Improvised Explosive
Devices (IEDs) also caused a fire outbreak but it was swiftly put
out.
Though no life was lost, sources said the explosion went out
with a bang that shook the entire vicinity, causing fear and
panic.
One of the staff of the secretariat, a caretaker, said: " this thing
happened on Saturday night at about 9p.m, and I heard a loud
noise and when I ran out, I saw smoke at the hall and my mate
joined me and we ran to the place.
READ ALSO : Suspected Bomber Fail To Detonate Explosive At
Police Check Point
"As we reached the place, we saw one boy running from this
window and climbed this wire on the fence. The glass window
broke before, so, I feel he entered through that place ."
The blast has been attributed by many to the leadership crisis
rocking the organisation.
The crisis is between the Enwo Igariwey-led leadership and the
Elders Council of Ohanaeze led by elder statesman, Chief
Mbazuluike Amaechi.
The group's executive body is claiming a 4-year tenure but the
elders' council has insisted that the exco's two-year tenure
expired on January 7 this year. Therefore, the elders' council of
the organisation led by Chief Amaechi had reportedly
constituted a caretaker committee with Chief Ralph Obioha as
chairman.
However, Chief Igariwey, the President-General is still laying
claim to his position insisting that he had a four-year mandate
and not two years as some people claimed.
READ ALSO: Suspected Bomber Blows Himself Up In Gombe
Chief Obioha, who inspected the Ohanaeze main hall after the
explosion yesterday, described it as an unfortunate incident.
" I have inspected the place it's quite an extensive damage. I
can't guess the motive or why such an attack should be
targeted at Ohanaeze. It is a mystery and I condemn it in its
entirety. It's actually a bomb issue but the motive cannot be
explained," he said.
Also commenting, the embattled Secretary General of Ohanaeze,
Dr. Joe Nworgu, said: " I don't know the choice of that target
whatsoever; It happened at about 8:45p.m; I was alerted at
about 8:55p.m. It is unfortunate."
But the public relations officer, Enugu State Police Command,
Ebere Amaraizu, said that it was not a bomb attack but a failed
attempt by unknown persons to bring down the Ohanaeze
building.
He said the police had already swung into action to find the
perpetrators and the motive.
Recall that the Nigerian police had about a month ago
discovered and defused two improvised explosive devices
(IEDs) planted at a popular eatery located around the Ikenegbu
area of Owerri, Imo state.