A commercial bus with Rivers State colour exploded at Rumuokoro in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State at about 11:am yesterday killing one and leaving three wounded, some of them critically.

An eye witness, Mrs Joy Akpan told The Tide that the vehicle came to an abrupt stop which prompted pedestrians and other passersby to lend a hand to the occupants trying to get the vehicle off the road.

According to her, it was in the process that the vehicle exploded prompting panic amongst residents and passersby.

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Indabawa who confirmed the explosion, however debunked suggestions that it was a bomb attack masterminded by Islamic fundamentalists group Boko Haram.

Indabawa said: “From what we have seen and recovered from the scene of the explosion, this is far from a terrorist attack.

“It was not a terrorist attack at all.

“I believe that these men were armed robbers who were going on a mission before something went wrong.”

The state police commissioner said the explosion was caused by dynamite being conveyed by some suspected armed robbers and not a bomb as largely rumoured.

According to him, apart from the occupants of the ill-fated misibushi bus, no other casualties were recorded.

Chris Oluoh

A bus involved in the blast at Rumuokoro junction in Port Harcourt, yesterday. Inset: lifeless body of one of the victims.