Substance suspected to be bomb was yesterday discovered at the venue of the campaign rally of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Okuku, hometown of the immidiate past governor of Osun State and senatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
The state Commissioner of Police, Olusegun Solomon in a quick reaction, however, dismissed the allegation of a bomb discovery, saying that what was discovered at the venue of the ACN rally, was a “mere grenade”.
It was gathered that the Anti-Bomb Disposal Unit of the Nigerian police was at the Okuku Town Hall, venue of the rally to do the normal pre-inspection sweep ahead of the arrival of the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola only to discover a substance suspected to be a bomb planted under the constructed podium.
The team, according to a reliable source quickly detonated the bomb and made adequate report of the incident to the appropriate quarters while the police kept close watch over the entire campaign ground and the community.
In a swift reaction, the state chapter of the ACN described it as devilish, criminal and ungodly the conduct of those that allegedly planted the substance under the podium erected for the campaign of the party.
According to the party’s director of research and strategy, Sunday Akere, the leadership of the party in the state condemned the action of “some unscrupulous elements to unleash terror on the governor’s campaign train especially during the last round of campaigning.” “The desperate politicians must have resorted to the lethal option having discovered that the lid has been blown over the initial plans to just attack the campaign train, Akwa Ibom style.
“We commend the Anti-Bomb disposal unit for being diligent in their work and preventing loss of lives and injuries to many but called on the other arms of the security apparatus to put a close watch on both the deposed governor, Oyinlola and the PDP Senatorial candidate in Osun East Senatorial District, Iyiola Omisore so as to ensure a crisis-free election on Saturday,” he added.