BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME
PORT HARCOURT: AN explosion occurred Tuesday at the Deputy governor’s wing of Government House, Port Harcourt.

Effort to get staff aides of the Deputy governor, Engr Tele Ikiru to confirm the development was futile. When Vanguard called his acting Chief Press Secretary Mr Jumbo in the afternoon the phone rang out several times. At the time of this report he had not returned the call. The Police too was not ready to comment on the incident.

Meantime, a source in Government House, Port Harcourt who spoke to the Vanguard under strict condition of anonymity said there was explosion Tuesday, adding that the incident caused a crack on some of the glass frames on the windows.

According to the source, it was clear the Deputy governor, Engr Ikiru did not want the development in the media, adding that it was probably why no statement had been issued on the development.

Another source within the Deputy governor’s office who spoke to the Vanguard said it was not really a serious issue, noting that the explosion caused a crater close to the fence of the Deputy governor’s office.

Meantime, at press time security had been intensified on the gate leading to the Deputy governor’s office.

This incident came on the same day the Mile one market was razed down by strange fire. Governor Amaechi who visited the scene of the inferno yesterday evening assured that the government would cushion the effect of the incident on victims.

Continuing, he said his administration would build a befitting market for the traders in the area.

“We won’t allow this happen again. This certainly cannot happen again. We have to rebuild a proper market. This is very sad. We thank God that nobody lost his life, that’s one thing we should praise God for and now a lot of people have lost their investments, their businesses, they don’t know how they will manage for this Christmas and all that.”

“The best government can do now is to see how we can assist. We will do that immediately before the Christmas comes and ensure that people don’t suffer much, then we will start building”, he said.