Suspect in attack at State House identified as 25-year-old Nigerian national

Investigators have identified the suspect in the stabbing and disarming of a Presidential Guard at State House this morning as a Nigerian national. Both the suspect and the Presidential guard remain hospitalised with serious injuries.

Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken and Crime Chief Wendel Blanhum both confirmed the man’s identity to News Source, giving his name as Bethel Ikena Chinezie. He is 25-years-old.

A motive for the attack is still to be determined.

According to the Police, Chinezie confronted Presidential Guard Telon Perreira at a security hut, declaring that he wanted the President. The Police report said he whipped out a knife and repeatedly stabbed the Presidential guard to his neck and upper body. As the injured guard collapsed, the suspect relieved him of his weapon and retreated to Carmichael Street where he opened fire.

Other Presidential guards and Police Officers in the area returned fire and the suspect kept firing shots until he was hit and collapsed at the corner of Carmichael and New Market Streets, just outside State House.

A video recording of the incident by a driver in the area showed the injured man on the roadway as Presidential guards and the Police approached him, while telling him to drop the weapon. The man was surrounded and the gun, a 9mm pistol, was kicked away from his hands.

He remained on the roadway for several minutes before being rushed to the hospital, as the injured guard was taken to the same facility.

Both men were rolled into emergency surgery.

At the hospital, family and friends of the injured guard rushed to the scene and were comforted by President Irfaan Ali who also went down to the hospital for an update from doctors.

Back at the scene, the Police said investigators were able to recover the 9mm gun and several spent shells. The entire area around State House was cordoned off for over three hours as the investigations were launched.

Investigators are trying to gather more information on the suspect. There are reports that he last worked at a cleaning company.

Persons who worked alongside him told News Source that the man did not speak much and the only issues he might have had at work, were issues related to not being on time for some cleaning jobs.

One source at the company said the man has never displayed any aggression and they are finding it difficult to understand what might have led to his attack.

The breach and attack at the President’s residence has raised serious questions about security and accessibility at State House.

In a statement, the opposition APNU+AFC condemned the attack at the President’s residence, saying that the Opposition welcomed news that the President and his family are safe. The APNU+AFC also wished a speedy recovery to the injured guard.