12th May, 2014
The Department of State Services (DSS), has declared one Rufai Tsiga, suspected mastermind of the bombing of Nyanya Motor Park on 14 April, and an ex-soldier accomplice, Aminu Ogwuche, wanted.
The Deputy Director of Public Relations of DSS, Marilyn Ogar, announced the declaration at a joint news conference in Abuja on Monday.
Ogar, who announced N25 million rewards for anyone who could give information that could lead to the arrest of the duo, also paraded five suspects in connection with the bombing.
NAN reports that the bombing killed more than 70 people with over 120 others injured.
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 13 April, Tsiga and one Muhammed Ishaq, one of the arrested suspects, moved a vehicle laden with explosives to the Nyanya Park.
“In the morning of 14 April, Tsiga, moved the explosives laden vehicle to the position from where he detonated the explosives,” she said.
Ogar said Ogwuche, a UK-born Nigerian, was a solider 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 Ogwuche was arrested on Nov. 12, 2011 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on arrival from the UK for a suspected involvement in terrorism-related activities.
Ogar said he was, however, released on bail to his father, retired Col. Agene Ogwuche on Oct. 15, 2012 following intense pressure from human rights activists, who alleged human rights violation.
The DSS 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 elicit other members used for the bombing.
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.