A High Court in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria, has been bombed and set ablaze by yet-to-be identified persons.

Ahoada East High Court was bombed and set ablaze this morning, according to information reaching News Express from the area.

Tension had been high in the area since last month when the Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice C. N. Wali, delivered a ruling barring Hon. Evans Bipi, leader of the G6 rebel members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, from parading himself as Speaker of the Assembly.

The bombing of the court came on the heels of reports that the police and military authorities in Rivers are under pressure to release the six suspected armed thugs of Hon. Bipi and Senator George Sekibo arrested over the weekend by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in Ogu (hometown of the two politicians) in Rivers State.

Sekibo and Bipi are both close political allies of Dame Patience Jonathan, wife of President Goodluck Jonathan and a political enemy of Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi.

“Mrs Jonathan was said to have ordered (the state Police Commissioner Joseph) Mbu to release the suspects and return to them the arms and ammunition found in their possession,” according to the Daily Independent.

“At press time last night, it was not clear whether Mbu had carried out the order or not, but Bipi was said to be to ensure the release of the suspects,” the report said.

•Photo shows Rivers Police Commissioner Joseph Mbu.