Dynamite explosion, near Shell Petroleum Development Company [SPDC]’s Gbaraun-Ubie gas pipeline, on Friday night, rocked some segments of a colonial bridge,

close to the popular Tombia roundabout, in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State at exactly 11.00 p.m.

The incident, which occurred beside the Tombia market, along the busy way to Ammasoma, manifested in a loud explosion, which attracted residents, most of who had gone to bed.

Sunday Tribune  gathered that the dynamite was allegedly detonated about 40 metres from the SPDC gas pipeline, but no life was lost to the dastardly act.

Some market stalls, near the scene of the explosion were also shattered and part of the concrete used for the construction of the 30 year-old bridge’s tail end peeled off.

When Sunday Tribune visited the spot early Saturday morning, an heavily armed team of the state police command was seen directing traffic, while Armoured Personnel Carrier [APC], manned by mobile policemen, was stationed beside the bridge.

Investigation conducted by Sunday Tribune revealed that bomb the disposal unit of the Bayelsa State police stormed the scene around 11.45 p.m.on Friday to comb the spot, with a view to ascertaining if there were remnants of the dynamites yet to be detonated.

But the development did not affect business activities at the market as traders and other individuals went about their normal transactions, while vehicles were allowed to pass through the bridge.

However, pedestrians’ walkway and the exact spot, where the dynamites allegedly went off on the bridge, were cordoned off, so that physical evidences would not be destroyed.

Meanwhile, about the time the dynamite explosion took place on the Tombia bridge, a saloon car was set ablaze by faceless people, close to the roundabout almost in front of the Creek Haven Government House.

Reacting to the incident at the spot of the explosion, the Bayelsa State commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Opara, said “some mischievous persons last night wanted to embarrass us by creating false impression of insecurity through the detonation of dynamites. We are lucky it did not damage the bridge. You can see that vehicles are still passing.

“Our bomb disposal unit was here last night to comb this area and they confirmed that it was dynamite. Immediately we finish our investigation, we will brief the media. What we have been doing before now is the adoption of proactive measures against all forms of sabotage.”

While allaying the fears of the people ans asking them not to link the incident to the incursion of Boko Haram into the state, Opara contended that “everybody should go about their normal businesses without fear. This is just an isolated case. People should not have any feeling that Boko Haram is here. There is nothing like that.

“Members of the public should be actively involved in the spirit of community policing and assist the security agencies with valid information that would be useful to track down criminal elements in the society.”

Commenting on the explosion, the Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, said “it is worrisome that these things are happening at a time the nation is faced with critical security challenges.”

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