Bomb explosions, gunshots heard at APC's rally in Patience Jonathan’s home town

A campaign rally by the APC in Okirika, home to Patience Jonathan, Nigeria’s First Lady, was disrupted twice on today wed. 17th, 2014.

The APC rally was initially disrupted by triple bomb blasts which happened a few minutes after the leadership and party faithful assembled at the Okirika National Secondary School field in the early hours of the day.

A source, who pleaded anonymity for his safety, told reporters that the rally had just got underway, when 3 bombs went off in quick succession in 3 different locations very close to the venue of the rally.

Two hours later after the initial disruption, the APC organizers rallied party faithful and supporters back to the venue of the rally and the programme was continued again.

Just as some of the speakers mounted the platform to address the crowd, sporadic gunshots rented the air and the party members again fled.

The APC's gubernatorial candidate, Dakuku Peterside, was answering questions from a Channels Television reporter when the gunshots was heard.

Both Mr. Peterside and the reporter also took to their heels as armed mobile policemen fired back and tried to calm down frightened citizens.

The Channels Television cameras were left rolling while the crew scampered to safety in the nearby buildings.

Some minutes later, the television reporter, Charles Eruka, was shown taking cover somewhere in the school field while giving live updates on the event. His report below

“We were at the National Secondary School when we heard series of explosions but when the crowd had the confidence to return because security agents had calm the situation,” Mr. Eruka said.“But when the gunshots started, of course everybody took their heels. But we are still here trying to figure out what is going on. We can’t see the shooters apart from armed security personnel. But we can hear gunfire in the background behind the buildings here.“The security agents are trying to make sure that people are whisked to safety. Some of the things that were left behind at the VIP areas are also being carried away to safety. The security agents have secured those in the VIP stand while most of us are lying on the floor.”