Blast At Rivers University

RIVERS STATE GOVERNOR CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI.

PORT HARCOURT, January 12, (THEWILL) - An explosion resembling a bomb blast has rocked the administrative block of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt.

The explosion occurred late Wednesday evening just as senior personnel were rounding off to retire for the day.

But the Police Thursday said the explosion was not caused by a bomb.

THEWILL gathered that the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Barineme Bekee Fakae, and Registrar, Mrs. Daba Odimabo, had just left the premises when the blast occurred.

RSUST Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Desmond Wosu said the damage caused by the explosion was severe, adding that school’s security personnel used fire extinguishers to quench the fire that followed the blast.

“We heard the explosion last night. It was between the hours of 7.30 and 8.00 pm. We heard a very big explosion here and the security within the institution rushed down there and saw fire. Luckily, they used the available fire extinguishers to put off the fire. We are not certain whether it was from a bomb or dynamite.

“The police have come and they are now investigating the matter. It is an unfortunate situation and no good student of this university will perpetrate this heinous act. We have beefed up security within the university environment.

“Those who are afraid as a result of the incident should not fear as the police are in control of the situation. There is no casualty in the explosion that rocked the university,” Wosu told journalists.

However, the Rivers State Police Command added a twist to the incident. Spokesman of the Command, Mr. Ben Ugwuegbulem, in a text message to journalists said the explosion was caused by a power surge from one of the refrigerators in the Vice Chancellor’s office.

His text messages reads: “On the 11.1.12 at about 1940 hours, Commissioner of Police, Rivers detailed Police EOD team of the Command to proceed to the office of the Vice Chancellor, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt in response to a reported incident of suspected explosion in the office of the VC.
 
“The EOD team arrived at the scene at about 2000 hours and commenced Post Blast Investigation at the already cordoned scene. That continued to this morning when at about 0930 hours investigation did not recover any pieces of evidence indicating the use of Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
 
“Rather a fire started by electrical device serving office refrigerator. The fire was earlier put off by the campus security. No injury or serious damage recorded.”