HOME MADE ROCKET TESTED IN IMO STATE

The Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Mr Mohammed Katsina, has allayed fears of terrorist attack in Okigwe, Imo State, after two
student scientists tested a home-made rocket. The flying object was manufactured and launched by two students of Federal
Government College, Okigwe, Gideon Emenike and Amechi Mgbemere. The commissioner explained that the...
object, which
landed in a residential area at Umuchime Ubahu, near Okigwe, was not a
bomb as speculated.
He said it was programmed to travel only five
kilometres but overshot its target and landed
in the residential area.
The commissioner said the startled residents
who thought that the flying object was a
bomb, informed the police after it landed in
their community.
Katsina, who conducted journalists round the
scene of the launch and the landing spot, said
investigations did not reveal any criminal
intent.
He said there was no terrorism motive in the
act, and urged the residents of the area to go
about their normal businesses without any
fear. The police commissioner said, "The
manufacturers of this rocket are not terrorists;
they are rather talented science students who
are keen to develop their scientific skills.
"The rocket has been deactivated and is safe,
the components as discovered by the police
bomb disposal unit do not contain any
radioactive or toxic element.
"Because the boys intended no harm, no
punitive measures will be taken; I will rather
recommend that they be sponsored so they
can achieve greater things."