Some supporters of All Progressives Congress Party (APC) in Rivers State sustained injuries after an improvised substance suspected to be dynamite exploded at the popular Igboukwu field, venue of a rally in Port Harcourt, on Thursday.
The injured victims, mostly women, were immediately evacuated from the scene of the incident.
The cause of the explosion was sketchy as of press time, but our reporter learnt that there was an altercation between youths of Rumuji community, owners of the Igboukwu field, and APC officials over access to the field.
The youths were said to have prevented the party from holding the rally at the field located at the popular Mile one area of Port Harcourt.
The youths, our reporter learnt, had barricaded and shut the entrance gate of the field, thereby denying the party access to the field.
A resident who pleaded anonymity said, “The explosion came with a loud bang and some persons were injured. The party officials had altercation with the youths of the community over access to the venue of the rally before the explosion occurred,” the source said.
Rivers State Publicity Secretary of APC , Darlington Nwauju, confirmed the incident to our reporter, saying a statement will be issued.
When contacted, Rivers State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe Koko, promised to get back to our reporter on the incident.