The Nigerian State Security Service (SSS) Tuesday confirmed that it had arrested a banker, an ally of the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Henry Okah, for allegedly coordinating the financing of the nation’s 50th Independence Day bombings in Abuja on 1 October, 2010. Local media reports said that Okah and his younger brother, Charles, as well as others are currently undergoing trial over the 2010 Independence Day bombings in South African and Abuja courts.
The reports quoted the SSS Assistant Director, Public Relations, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, as saying that the banker and a suspected expert in Improvised Explosive Devices were arrested in Lagos by operatives of the SSS.
She stated that the arrested banker was responsible for fund transfers to other suspects to facilitate gun-running activities in the creeks. ‘He was arrested at his desk in a micro-finance bank.’
Ogar, who briefed journalists on the arrests in Abuja on Tuesday, did not mention the name of the arrested suspects.
Ogar said, however, that the agency recovered an ash-coloured Isuzu Trooper jeep with registration number Lagos FE 452 LSR; a Honda Accord car with number Lagos DM 257 FST and a 1989 model Toyota Camry whose registration is Lagos DP 100 AAA and which had special compartment for explosive materials and guns.
Ogar explained that the two cars that were meant to be used for bombing were recovered in Lagos as well as the jeep.
She said, “You will recall that after the October 1, 2010, bombing near 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 States, and subsequently made public.
“On October 3, 2011, the two remaining cars which also had compartments constructed to be used for bombing were recovered in Lagos. Additionally, another grey coloured Isuzu Trooper jeep with specially constructed compartment and a capacity to carry over 200 AK 47 rifles was also recovered.”
According to Ogar, the second suspect, whose name she declined to disclose, packaged and wired the vehicles and finally moved them from Port Harcourt to Abuja for placement at the points of detonation.
She stated that the third suspect, who was arrested on October 3, 2011 was a key figure in the distribution of arms and ammunition to militants and other components that were used for the October bombing.
The SSS paraded items recovered from the suspects among which were three Browning pistols recovered from the special compartment of the Toyota Camry; 500 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and 175 live rounds of AK 47 rifle which were recovered from the Honda Accord car; four magazines loaded with 36 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and four hand gloves.
Others items included six face masks; two pairs of jungle boots; two red lends torch-lights; one red-coloured mechanic tool box; one measuring instrument; one electric saw; one welding machine and a panel saw.