A loud explosion suspected to be bomb blast has hit
the Peoples Democratic Party secretariat in
Calabar, Cross River State.
The incident, which happened at the PDP
secretariat along the Murtala Mohammed Highway
at about 5.30am on Monday, also affected several
buildings within the vicinity.
Our correspondent, who visited the scene at about
6.30am, observed the high presence of heavily
armed policemen and soldiers who barred taking of
pictures.
Although no group has claimed responsibility, it
should be noted that the secretariat had been
under lock following controversies that trailed the
November 1 wards delegate election.
However, one of the residents of the area, Joel
Ogunlana, said he felt the effect of the blast in his
building which is 300 metres away.
“I heard a loud bang and everywhere started
shaking. I thought the house was going to collapse,”
he said.
In the compound that shares the same fence with
the secretariat from behind, several glass doors
and windows were shattered.
Policemen rebuffed attempt to even speak with
neighbours at that building as they threatened to
unleash terror on our correspondent.
Some of the overzealous security personnel jumped
over the fence with their guns and threatened to
deal with our correspondent and smash his phone if
he did not leave at once.
However, confirming the incident, the state
chairman of the party, Mr John Okon, said “I
understand they threw in a bomb or dynamite or
something. The police are there and the anti-bomb
squad are on the way. We would not be able to use
the secretariat for the ward congresses. We would
be using the Presidential Lodge. All the electoral
officers are collecting their materials and going to
the field. The windows and other things inside the
office were destroyed.”
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations
Officer, Hogan Bassey, read, “Early today, 24th
November at about 0535 hours, hoodlums who were
unable to penetrate the heavily fortified
secretariat by officers and men of the Command
threw an explosive device from behind the premises
into the building. The explosion only shattered some
louvers on the ground floor. No life was lost and
nobody sustained injury.”
Chief Fire Officer of the Quick Intervention Squad
of the Emergency Response Centre, Ugbong
Celestine, who arrived the secretariat at about
11am said he was called by his coordinator that
there was a blast and fire and they came for rescue
operations.
There was heavy presence of heavily armed
security agents at the Presidential Lodge.
Journalists were not allowed inside. The security
agents said they were under strict instructions not
to let anyone inside.
Reacting to the developments, Director-General of
the Ndoma-Egba campaign organization, Mr Ernest
Irek, said, “They are militarizing a simple thing as
ward congresses and chasing away party members.” www.punchng.com/news/explosion-rocks-cross-river-pdp-secretariat/

Bombings gradually coming down south.

Calabar is a peaceful and beautiful town, people who live with violence should please stay away from that town.

Sad news coming from Calabar.

hmmm

baLLoTBOxX:
Bombings gradually coming down south.

Big lie

Collynzo9:

Big lie

am glad you've not managed to blame APC for this. The early we realise that boko haram is a nigerian problem, the better for us.

Collynzo9:

Big lie

it's asif he wishes it to be so.

All these calabar people have started to bomb themselves. It is not a Nigerian problem it is a calabar problem. Let them continue to kill themselves

baLLoTBOxX:
am glad you've not managed to blame APC for this. The early we realise that boko haram is a nigerian problem, the better for us.

This has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with boko haram.
They know their boundaries

Arch1:
All these clabar people of started to bomb themselves. It is not a Nigerian problem it is a calabar problem. Let them continue to kill themselves

No body died.
Sorry to disappoint you.
Dynamites have been in use in the ND long before boko haram started bombing, but unlike boko haram that seeks to kill as many innocent people as possible, they use theirs to destroy pipelines, oil installations and recently political buildings.

Calaba..I love that town, one of ma favourite..I'm curious, have some people been given licence to blow sh*t up other than BH?

Collynzo9:

No body died.
Sorry to disappoint you.
Dynamites have been in use in the ND long before boko haram started bombing, but unlike boko haram that seeks to kill as many innocent people as possible, they use theirs to destroy pipelines, oil installations and recently political buildings.

I dont mean to write that and i dont wish anybody death. But thats what you guys say about the bombings in the North.
Bombings and terrorism is not good for the country. The govt should work on our national security