The Nigerian Times has just learnt of a bomb explosion at the Owerri branch of the Living Faith Church (aka Winners Chapel), located along the Owerri-PortHarcourt road.
A member of the church who spoke to The Nigerian Times on condition of anonymity said the bomb went off at about 6am, before any worshippers got to the church.
She said there were up to six bombs, all of which were primed to go off at about 8am when then church would have been filled to capacity, but for some reason, one of the bombs went of much earlier.
“There was a bomb blast in our church this morning, and so the church has relocated temporarily to Hero’s square; that is where we’re having today’s service.
“The explosion occurred around 6am when nobody was inside the church. When security agents got there they now saw about five more bombs that were set to explode at about 8am. We don’t know how that other one managed to explode before the others,” she said.
When The Nigerian Times got through to DSP Andrew Enwerem, the Police Public Relations officer for the Imo state Command, he confirmed the planting of a bomb at the church, but said it was the police who detonated it, that it didn’t go off on its own.
His words: “The police deliberately detonated an object that was suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Device at Winners Chapel.
“The discovery was made last night by security men at the Winners church who were very alert. When they saw (an abandoned) hand bag around the church’s gate they quickly alerted the police
“The police bomb experts quickly moved in and discovered the explosive and deliberately detonated it before it could cause any harm.
“We’ve gone on air to alert other churches and other densely populated areas to be on the look out for such suspected objects and quickly alert the police.”
The PPRO added that investigation has commenced into the incident, although no arrest had been made as at the time he spoke to The Nigerian Times this morning.
Culled from Nigerian Times.
No comments:
Post a Comment