According to reports, scores of people are feared dead and injured during the multiple bomb explosion at the ongoing All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship rally in Okrika, Rivers State on Tuesday, February 17, 2015.
This explosion occurred when party chieftains and members gathered at the Okirika National Secondary School before the rally.
The blast caused serious pandemonium as people were seen scampering away for safety.
An anonymous source disclosed that lots of people were injured while trying to run from the explosion scene.
“We had just started the rally when three bombs went off near the venue. There was a stampede as people fled in different directions to safety,” the source said.
“Nobody knows who detonated the bombs but it was very close to the football field where the rally took place. Many people sustained injuries while trying to escape to safety.
However, a couple of hours later, supporters came back to the venue of the rally and the programme was kicked off again but just as the the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Dakuku Peterside mounted the podium to address the crowd, sporadic gunshots filled the air which caused party members to run off again.
Policemen who were already on standby at the venue started firing back at the shooters while trying to calm down the frightened crowd.
A television reporter, Charles Eruka, present at the rally also gave an account of the incident, he said,
“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,” Mr. Eruka said.
“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.”
