Controversy Trails Suspected Blast At Ohanaeze's Enugu Secretariat

Residents of Enugu has been gripped by anxiety over a suspected bomb
attack at the national secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the town.

The suspected explosion reportedly took place during the weekend but
led to tension in the Coal City as news of the incident became public
on Tuesday.

The explosion, which was said to be the handiwork of suspected
arsonists, armed with improvised explosives devices, destroyed some
parts of the building.

PUNCH correspondent, who visited the secretariat, observed that the
ceiling of the main hall, where major meetings of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo
takes place, was particularly affected by the fire which allegedly
followed the explosion.

It was gathered that the fire was subsequently put off by security
personnel at the secretariat, who were at the location when the
incident occurred.

One of the security men, who pleaded anonymity, said they chased away
the arsonists, who set off the explosion.

He explained that the arsonists, who had sneaked into the building,
fled after they were discovered, leaving behind items suspected to be
IEDs, including cans of petrol and a bucket containing substances
suspected to be carbide.

No life was lost in the incident but it was gathered that the
explosion went off with a bang which rocked the entire vicinity.

The explosion will heighten tensions within the leadership of Ohanaeze
Ndigbo, where the Elders Council is locked in a bitter dispute with
the Chief Enwo Igariwey-led National Executive Committee over tenure
in office.

The elders, led by elder statesman, Chief Mbazuluike Amechi, are
insisting that the executive committee's tenure in office is two
years, but the NEC is saying that the duration of its stay in office
had been extended to four years, after a review carried out by the
last administration.

Speaking to our correspondent on Tuesday, the Secretary General of
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nworgu, noted that reports of the incident
had been blown out of proportion.

However, he admitted that the masterminds had yet to be identified, as
the police were still investigating the matter.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Police Command, Ebere
Amaraizu, said there was no bomb explosion at the secretariat.

He, however, admitted that there was an attempt to bomb the building.
--PUNCH