UPDATE: “Mastermind” of Nyanya, Abuja, explosion arrested in Sudan

The alleged co-mastermind of the Nyanya attack was a former Nigerian soldier.

A ‘mastermind’ of the April 14 bomb blast in Nyanya, Abuja, has been arrested, an official has said.

The coordinator, Joint Information Centre on Chibok girls, Mike Omeri, said at a joint news conference on Wednesday that Interpol operatives arrested Aminu Ogwuche, a former Nigerian soldier with service number SVC 95/104, in Sudan.
“One of the two most wanted suspects of the Nyanya bombings placed on terrorists list has been arrested with the effort of the Interpol,” Mr. Omeri said.
He also said that Mr. Ogwuche’s extradition to Nigeria will commence immediately for interrogation and prosecution.

Mr. Ogwuche, a U.K.-born Nigerian who deserted the army in 2006, was declared wanted by the Department of State Security, SSS, on Monday alongside another suspect, Rufai Tsiga.
Mr. Tsiga is still at large.
The ex-soldier was accused of being an accomplice in the Boko Haram attack at the Nyanya Motor Park that killed more than 70 people and injured over 120 others.

The spokesperson of the SSS, Marilyn Ogar, had on Monday announced a N25 million reward for anyone who could give useful information about the duo at a joint conference.

Five other suspects; Ahmad Abubakar, 43; Muhammed Ishaq, 30; Yau Saidu, 28; Anas Isah, 22; and Adamu Yusuf, a cleric, 43, were also paraded in connection with the bombing.

The paraded suspects claimed that they bombed the park to retaliate the killing of a Boko Haram member at the park a week before the incident.
Ms. Ogar said that on the morning of April 14, Mr. Tsiga and one of the arrested suspects, Mr. Ishaq, moved a vehicle laden with explosives to the Nyanya Park.

She said that Mr. Ogwuche served in the Intelligence Unit of the Nigerian Army at Child Avenue, Arakan Barracks, Lagos, between 2001 and 2006.

Mr. Ogwuche was said to have been 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.

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 said.
Ms. Ogar noted that Nigerians should be happy now that the international community had joined the operation to free the country of terrorists.
She said that the Boko Haram insurgency and the abduction of over 250 girls from the dormitory at a Government Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State would soon be unravelled.
Also speaking at the briefing, Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said parading the suspects will demystify them and thus weaken the terrorists.
“It will also enable the security agencies to know their modus operandi,’’ Mr. Mba had said.