Bayelsa Speaker’s House Attacked

BEVERLY HILLS, January 07, (THEWILL) – The house of the Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Konbowei Benson, has been attacked with explosives in Korokorosie, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area on Thursday.

Benson who spoke in a live telephone radio programme, claimed that the attack was carried out by men, hired by the opposition party, who threw dynamites that destroyed part of his house.

The speaker, who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, said he got wind of the development around 4am through a telephone call.

“I was asleep in my house here in Yenagoa and around 4am, my wife's phone rang and a message was sent to us that they have gone to throw dynamite to my house,” he said.

“It is not something unexpected because they have always been promising to attack, to kill or assassinate me or my family members.”

The attack was confirmed by Asinim Butswat, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state, who added that the police was on the trail of those behind the incident.

“On the 7/1/2016, at about 0405hrs, unknown persons detonated an object suspected to be dynamite in the compound of Hon Kombowei Benson, at Korokorosei community,” Butswat said in a statement.

“The impact resulted to damage to the doors, windows and glasses in his residence. Nobody was injured and no life was lost.”

“The scene was visited and a team of Explosive ordnance Disposal unit (EOD) is conducting post blast Investigations. Efforts have been intensified to arrest the culprits.”

The attack has heightened tensions in the state ahead of Saturday's rerun election in Southern Ijaw and some polling units across Bayelsa.