Fear Grips Imo Residents …As Police Defuse Two Bombs In Owerri Church

The Imo State Police Command have arrested six suspects over the discovery of two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in a church in Owerri, the state capital, the Commissioner of Police, Abdumajid Ali,  and spokesperson for the command, Andrew Enwerem, have said.
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Enwerem, told newsmen that the police was alerted to strange objects at the entrance of the Port Harcourt Road branch of Winners Chapel around midnight on Saturday.
He said bomb experts were promptly drafted to the church to sweep the area.
“During their check, it was discovered that IEDs in forms of refrigerator compressors concealed in sack bags were discovered,” Enwerem said.
“One was promptly detonated at the scene because it was on a timer. The other one was dis-alarmed and then taken away for detonation.”
The police spokesperson said those arrested have not been directly linked to planting the deadly explosives.
“They were arrested because we believe we might be able to obtain information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators from them,” Enwerem said, adding that “investigations are ongoing.”
The police believe the explosives were planted on Saturday night and timed to explode after worshippers had gathered for worship on Sunday.
The state Police Commissioner, Ali had while briefing journalists at the church premises, said the command would do everything possible to unravel the perpetrators of the act.
He urged the people to go about their normal activities as the two IEDs have been detonated.
Also speaking, Brigade Commander, 34 Artillery Brigade, Owerri, Brig.-Gen. Lanre Bello, confirmed that the explosives were capable of killing many people at a time.
Worshippers at the church were yesterday full of thanks to God for sparing their lives.
A worshipper, Onumara Onyekachi, told newsmen that, “I was about getting ready for the second service when a friend posted this “Breaking News!!!!!! Police Anti-Bomb Squad has just detonated two bomb explosives planted at Winner Chapel, PH Road, Owerri”.
“I made a few calls and confirmed that it was true,” he said, and thanked God for saving the lives of thousands of worshippers at the church.

Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State (middle), raising the hand of the newly elected National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, at the party’s national convention in Abuja last Saturday . With them are former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu (left); former Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (2nd-left) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.