Three more suspects of the October 1, 2010 bombing at the Eagle Square, Abuja, have been arrested and their operational vehicles and munitions seized.
Making the disclosure yesterday, the State Security Service (SSS), which did not disclose the identities or names of the suspects, said the three men were picked up at various locations in the country, one year after the act.
The spokeswoman of the SSS, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, told journalists in Abuja that the arrests were made after painstaking investigation and sheer determination of purpose by the operatives of the Service.
Also arrested, according to her, were two of the five cars meant to be used for the bombing; one of the cars was constructed to carry 200 AK47 riffles.
“You will recall that after the 1st October, 2010, bombing near the Eagle Square, the Service had informed that five cars were meant to be used for the bombing.
“Two cars were detonated while one was later recovered in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and subsequently made public.
“On 3rd October, 2011, the two remaining cars which also had compartments constructed to be used for bombs were recovered in Lagos.
“Additionally, another grey coloured Izuzu Trooper Jeep with specially constructed compartment and a capacity to carry over 200 AK47 rifles was also recovered,” she said.
Ogar also said that one of the suspects, who was declared wanted last year, was eventually traced to a neighbouring country and subsequently arrested on October 9 (last Sunday), in Lagos.
She said the suspect
was an expert in the production of improvised explosive device (IED) and was a key figure in the October 1, 2010, bombing as he procured all the explosive devices used; packaged and wired the vehicles and finally moved them from Port Harcourt to Abuja for final placement at the points of detonation.
Also apprehended according to Ogar, was a banker who handled all financial transactions for the leaders of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Mr. Henry Okah, particularly for the March 15 and October 1, 2010 car bombings in Warri, Delta State, and Abuja (FCT) respectively.
Ogar further said the suspect was responsible for fund transfers to other suspects to facilitate gun-running activities in the creeks; while a third suspect was similarly, according to her, arrested on October 3, this year.
Ogar further said the suspect was responsible for fund transfers to other suspects to facilitate gun-running activities in the creeks; while a third suspect was similarly, according to her, arrested on October 3, this year.
He, the SSS spokeswoman said, was a key figure in the distribution of arms and ammunition to militants and other components that were used for the October 1, 2010 bombing.
Ogar told journalists that the service recovered one Toyota Camry (1989 model) with Lagos State Registration No: DP 100 AAA from the third suspect.
Besides the Camry car, she said the service also recovered from the third suspect, one Honda Accord car with Lagos Registration No: DM 257 FST; a grey coloured Izuzu Trooper SUV with Lagos Registration No: FE 452 LSR; three Browning Pistols in the constructed compartment of the Toyota Camry car as well as 500 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and 175 rounds of live AK47 rifle ammunition in the constructed compartment of the Honda Accord car; and four magazines loaded with 36 rounds of 9mm live ammunition.
Other items found on him, according to Ogar, were four hand gloves; six face masks; two pairs of jungle boots; two red lens torch lights; one red coloured mechanic tool box; one measuring instrument; electric saw; one welding machine; one panel saw; different types of documents; one sledge hammer; one filing/cutting machine; and two knives.
The SSS, while assuring Nigerians of their safety, said the arrests would serve as a warning to all perpetrators of crimes against the country, as the era of impunity, it warned, was over.
“No matter how long it takes or where criminals may be hiding, the long arm of the law will catch up with them and they will be brought to justice,” Ogar said.
She also appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the security authorities as investigation of terrorist activities is painstaking and time consuming exercise.
Source.....Thisday
