Explosions rock courts in Rivers

ATTEMPTS to reopen courts in River State was Monday thwarted by series  of coordinated bomb attacks on some courts premises across the state.

The Port Harcourt branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which has condemned the attacks, described the act as a deliberate attempt by some vested interest in the crisis rocking the state judiciary, to frustrate the resumption of court proceedings in Rivers State.

Unknown  arsonists carried out series of what the police has described as coordinated bomb attacks  in Port Harcourt, Degema , Omoku and Isiokpo respectively, just as courts were expected to reopen, following the abrupt suspension of the over eight month old strike by the State branch of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) over the weekend.

A judiciary staff who pleaded anonymity told The Guardian at the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt that unknown assailants and arsonists stormed the court premises in the earlier hours of Monday just before workers were due to resume work and detonated two bombs suspected to be dynamites. One of the bombs exploded near the NBA building and the second, close to the new Magistrate court building. The third bomb that failed to explode, was later detonated by Police anti bomb squad.

Minimum damage was recorded the Port Harcourt judiciary headquarters which was still under lock and key as apprehensive workers stayed away from their offices.

Similarly, in Degema, the State court complex was completely razed  down after it was bombed by yet to be identified arsonists. The Degema Local Government Caretaker chairman, Mr. Ibigoni Pokima, explained that the arsonists who torched the court succeeded in destruction of the vital court documents and razed the judge’s office.

Omoku and Isiokpo Court premises were also torched by the arsonists whose motive as at press time remain shrouded in mystery.

The Rivers State Police Command spokesperson, Ahmad Muhammad, the Commissioner of Police was deeply saddened by the tragic and senseless attacks on the temples of justice. He pointed out that those who issues must realize that violence is never and will never be a solution to problem(s).