The Rivers State Government has announced the arrest of a suspect in connection with the detonation of an explosive device near the state-owned Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
According to the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, the suspect was brought to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSTH) for treatment by his accomplices, who claimed he was involved in a road accident.
However, medical personnel quickly recognized that the injuries were consistent with those sustained in a blast, rather than a road traffic accident.
The commissioner stated, “Following that call, our medical facilities in the state were on a heightened sense of alert and so when a young man was brought to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital with alleged injury sustained during what was said to be a road traffic accident the medical personnel that were on hand to examine him and offer care were on alert.
“And immediately recognised that the injuries seen on this individual were not in tandem with a road traffic accident, but rather resemble injuries that would have come from a blast.
“The individual was taken to the theatre for immediate resuscitation because as of the time he was brought in he was semi-conscious.
“The medical personnel did the needful and immediately informed the Rivers State Government. Immediately informed the Commissioner for Police and the Rivers State Ministry of Health about the presence of that individual in the facility even when providing emergency medical care to revive and resuscitate him.”
The commissioner added, “We are working with the Rivers State Police Command and so the Hospital has been fully secured, the premises and the perimeter have been fully secured.
“The patient is undergoing medical treatment. He is stable and the police are doing their own part in carrying out the necessary investigations.
“And so in this manner, we just seek to inform the public that this is the update following the earlier incident of today in Port Harcourt.”
The Rivers State Government had earlier issued an alert to all medical facilities in the state to be vigilant and look out for an individual with a traumatically dismembered upper limb, believed to be the suspect.
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Oreh, while speaking to newsmen on Tuesday evening said, “Now the Rivers State Ministry of Health is calling for an alert to all medical facilities in the state, both public and privately owned facilities to be vigilant and look out for an individual, a young man with a traumatically dismembered upper limb because this injury which was sustained will require medical attention.
“If such an individual and their accomplices are present in any of the facilities, immediately notify the Commissioner for Police, Rivers State and the Rivers State Ministry of Health.”
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