Rivers Government Denies Reported Bomb Explosion At Banana Farm

PORT HARCOURT, August 16, (THEWILL) – Government of Rivers State has refuted media reports of a bomb blast around Banana Plantation in Tai Local Council, saying some device indeed went off but not anywhere close to the said location.

“Our attention has been drawn to reports of a purported bomb explosion at the Banana Plantation in Tai, Rivers State,” read a Thursday statement signed by David Iyofor, chief press secretary to the Rivers State governor.

“We must state categorically that there was no bomb explosion at or within the perimeters of the banana farm plantation. We are aware that some sort of device went off but this was some reasonable distance away from our plantation and certainly not within the perimeters of the banana farm.”

Iyofor urged journalists to “please always cross-check and double-check whatever information they have before going to press” and reassured the people of Rivers that the state remains safe, conducive and open for business.

Although no group claimed responsibility for the reported blast, it had been linked to the people of Ogoni, who are known to have vehemently voiced their opposition to project, a joint initiative of the state government and a Mexican agricultural firm.