Abuja bombing: SSS declares ex-soldier wanted, parades five suspects

DSS paraded 5 suspects and announced a N25 million reward for information on masterminds.

The Department of State Security, SSS, has declared Rufai Tsiga, a suspected mastermind of the Nyanya Motor Park bombing of April 14, wanted. The service also declared an ex-soldier, Aminu Ogwuche, wanted for being an accomplice.

The Deputy Director of Public Relations of the agency, Marilyn Ogar, announced this at a joint news conference in Abuja on Monday.

Ms. Ogar, who announced a N25 million reward for anyone who could give information that could lead to the arrest of the duo, also paraded five suspects in connection with the bombing.

The bombing killed more than 70 people with over 120 others injured.

Ms. Ogar named the suspects as Ahmad Abubakar, 43; Muhammed Ishaq, 30; Yau Saidu, 28; Anas Isah, 22; and Adamu Yusuf, a cleric, 43.

“Rufai Abubakar Tsiga, a Boko Haram leader, is the mastermind of the bombing of April 14, 2014 at El-Rufai Motor Park, Abuja. Tsiga was actively aided by a co-mastermind, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, a student of Arabic Language at the International University of Africa, Sudan. The sum of N25 million is hereby announced as reward for anybody with useful information on their whereabouts,” she said.

The director said that on the night of April 13, Mr. Tsiga and one of the arrested suspects, Mr. Ishaq, moved a vehicle laden with explosives to the Nyanya Park.

“In the morning of April 14, Tsiga, moved the explosives laden vehicle to the position from where he detonated the explosives,” she said.

Ms. Ogar said Mr. Ogwuche, a U.K.-born Nigerian, was a soldier with service number SVC 95/104 but deserted the army in 2006.

“He served in the Intelligence Unit of the Nigerian Army at Child Avenue, Arakan Barracks, Lagos, between 2001 and 2006,” she said.

She added that Mr. Ogwuche was arrested on November 12, 2011 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on arrival from the U.K. for suspected involvement in terrorism-related activities.

Ms. Ogar said he was, however, released on bail to his father, Agene Ogwuche, a retired colonel, on October 15, 2012, following intense pressure from human rights activists, who alleged human rights violation.

The SSS spokesperson said that the arrested suspects claimed that they bombed the park to retaliate the killing of a Boko Haram member at the park a week before the incident.

She denounced the claim as a fabrication by the mastermind of the bombing to induce other members used for the bombing.

Ms. Ogar urged the public to be wary as terrorist elements were disguising and taking up menial jobs and parading themselves as businessmen daily in Abuja and its environs.

“Therefore, security awareness of the public will continue to play pivotal role in the war on terror. We hereby enjoin fellow Nigerians to be very vigilant and collaborate with law enforcement agencies as we together strive to protect our nation from antics of criminals within and outside our shores,” she said.

(NAN)