Suspected IED Blast Rocks Bayelsa Secretariat, Police Arrest 60-Year-Old Suspect

|By Chinwendu Nwani

A suspected improvised explosive device (IED) explosion disrupted activities at the Bayelsa State Secretariat Complex in Yenagoa early Wednesday, triggering heightened security measures and a temporary shutdown of the government facility.

The blast occurred around 6:00 a.m., prompting security operatives to swiftly cordon off the area to prevent further danger. Movement in and out of the secretariat was immediately restricted as emergency teams conducted intensive safety checks.

Confirming the incident, the Bayelsa State Police Command said no lives were lost and no buildings were damaged. In a statement, the Commissioner of Police, CP Iyamah, disclosed that security personnel were rapidly deployed to the scene following the explosion.

According to him, operatives of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit discovered one unexploded IED during a detailed search of the premises and successfully rendered it safe. A 60-year-old man, identified as Pentecost Elijah from Otuan Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, was arrested at the scene in connection with the incident.

The police commissioner said the suspect is currently being interrogated at the State Criminal Investigation Department and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations. He assured residents that the situation was fully under control and urged the public to remain calm and go about their lawful activities.

In response to the security scare, the Bayelsa State Government ordered a four-hour suspension of activities at the secretariat as a precautionary measure. The directive, issued by the Head of Service, Dr. Wisdom Ebiye Sawyer, affected more than 6,000 civil servants who were asked to stay away from the complex while security sweeps were completed.

Security agencies, including the anti-bomb squad, mounted roadblocks along major access routes leading to the State Secretariat and Government House, while surveillance teams searched nearby buildings to rule out additional threats.

Authorities later declared the area safe, allowing normal operations to gradually resume after security clearance.