THE Nigerian national, Bethel Ikena Chimezie, 25, who was shot three times by presidential guards after attempting to infiltrate State House Thursday last, was, recently, taken off the ventilator. He is still a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

A presidential guard was stabbed several times about his body during the attack.

The Nigerian, who was previously employed with a local security company, arrived in Guyana in March 2020.

According to Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, Bethel Ikena Chinezie is expected to be interrogated shortly by a team of investigators on the attack at State House, where the first family resides.

“We just received some further information that they took him off the ventilator; so as a result of that, a team of investigators are on their way to see if they can interview him in relation to the State House incident,” Blanhum disclosed on the sidelines of an award ceremony held at Police Officer’s Mess, Eve Leary, Georgetown on Tuesday.

According to the police, contact has been made with law enforcement counterparts regarding the suspect’s background and other pertinent information, as investigations continue.

The police noted, however, that further information could not be released due to the sensitive nature of this investigation.

It was last Thursday that Chimezie attacked Perreira, stabbing him five times during an attempt to breach the security perimeter at State House.

The incident occurred at approximately 07:30hrs at the south-eastern guard hut adjacent to Carmichael Street.

The situation has left the entire country in shock as to what could have motivated Chimezie to carry out such a brazen attack at the official residence of the President of Guyana, enough to cause concern for the safety of the First Family.

Thankfully, President Dr. Irfaan Ali and his family were unharmed during the attack.

Chimezie had confronted the State House security, stating: “I want the President,” before drawing a knife from the waist of his pants and stabbing Perreira.

He would subsequently relieve another guard of his firearm and fire several rounds while retreating to Carmichael Street. The security team returned fire, injuring Chimezie.