by ‘Jola Sotubo

The circumstances surrounding the bombing in Nyanya, Abuja might yet be revealed as the Department of State Security (DSS) has apprehended and paraded 5 suspects in connection with the crime.

The suspects were paraded yesterday by the DSS which also placed a ransom of N25 million on two suspects, Rufai Abubakar Tsiga and Aminu Sadiq Ogwuch, who are believed to have masterminded the attack.

The development was disclosed by the DSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar at a briefing held at the Yellow House headquarters of the security outfit in Abuja.

The Nation reports:

Ms. Ogar said Tsiga, assisted by Ogwuche, drove the explosive laden car to the scene of the blast a day to the incident.

Tsiga was said to have left the car at the Nyanya bus station and went back to detonate the explosives early in the morning of April 14.

The DSS spokesperson said Tsiga ran a patent medicine kiosk as a decoy at Utako in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), from where he allegedly recruited other sect members who disguised as his apprentices.

Ogwuche was described as a British born Nigerian from Benue State who was in November 2011 arrested at the Abuja airport on his arrival from the United Kingdom, in connection with terrorism.

Ogar, however, said the suspect was released on bail to his father, Col. Agene Ogwuche (rtd), in October 2012, following intense pressure from the human rights community who alleged violation of his human rights.

The DSS spokesperson added that Ogwuche deserted the Nigerian Army in 2006 after serving in the Intelligence Unit at the Arakan Barracks, Lagos.

He was said to have absconded when he was posted to the Nigerian Defence Academy, , Kaduna, in 2006. Ogar gave his service number as SVC 95/104.

Ogwuche is said to be studying Arabic Language at the International University of Africa, Sudan.

Ogar pledged that “Nigerian security forces shall not rest on their oars until every individual or group of persons involved in the Nyanya bombings are brought to book.”

The other five suspects in the custody of the DSS who were also paraded are: Ahmad Rufai Abubakar (43); Muhammadu Sani Ishaq (30); Yau Saidu (28); Adamu Yusuf (43); and Anas Isah (22).

They all confessed to having played various roles in preparations before the bombing of the Abuja bus station.

Before bringing out the five suspects to be photographed and questioned by reporters, Ogar said the suspects were told the bombing was in retaliation for the killing of a Boko Haram member the week before at the bus station.

She added that no member of the sect was killed. But she revealed that lower level Boko Haram militants were still hiding in Abuja.

“Terrorist elements are disguising daily by taking up various businesses and menial jobs in Abuja and its environs. Therefore, security awareness of the public and prompt response to information sharing will continue to play a pivotal role in the war on terror,” said Ogar.