Police capture Madalla Christmas Day bomber
At the last count, over 40 persons died in the bomb attack on the Catholic Church, a mayhem that was condemned by Christians, Muslims, a cross-section of Nigerians and the international community, including the Vatican. A top police officer at the Edet House police headquarters in Abuja told Sunday Trust yesterday that the suspect, […]
At the last count, over 40 persons died in the bomb attack on the Catholic Church, a mayhem that was condemned by Christians, Muslims, a cross-section of Nigerians and the international community, including the Vatican.
A top police officer at the Edet House police headquarters in Abuja told Sunday Trust yesterday that the suspect, whose name was given as Kabiru Sokoto, was arrested at the Borno State Liaison Office on Samora Machel Street, off T. Y. Danjuma Road, Asokoro, Abuja in the morning hours on Saturday.
The police officer said, “Kabiru Sokoto was in company of a serving military officer at the Borno State Liaison Office when he was captured in a joint operation by security agencies. We have been on his trails since attack because we’re aware that he is associated with the sect’s cell in Suleja area. He is of bomb expert, with the capacity to using gas cylinders to put together Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).”
The Christmas Day killings led to loud outcry and severe criticism of security agencies for being unable to prevent the dastardly act in spite of the huge budgetary allocations to that sector. President Goodluck Jonathan, on the eve of the New Year, imposed emergency rule on four states, namely Borno, Niger, Yobe and Plateau, as a result of the incessant attacks suspected to have been carried out by the controversial sect, Boko Haram.
Corroborating the arrest, a source at the Borno State Liaison Office explained to Sunday Trust last night how Kabiru Sokoto was captured by the police.
The official at the liaison office said, “Kabiru Sokoto came to the liaison office here, saying he wanted to travel to London, but because of the strike by Labour his flight was delayed. He said he wanted to spend the night here and, not knowing that he has been on the wanted list of security agencies, he was allowed to pass the night here in company of a military officer. This morning, security agencies came here and arrested him.”
Sunday Trust gathered that upon the arrest of the suspect, top officials of security agencies met with President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo to review the situation.
Boko Haram’s spokesman Abdul Qaqa had quoted the group as claiming responsibility for the Christmas Day bombing at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, saying “The Madalla attack and those related to it were a retaliation to the Eid-el Fitr attack on Muslims in a mosque in Sultaniyya (Jos) Plateau State” earlier last year.
In a related development, those involved in the importation of weapons into Nigeria through Ghana have been flown into Abuja and are being interrogated a senior police officer revealed to our reporter last night.
Ghanaian security agents seized a truckload of arms on its way to the country and arrested five people, a senior police officer in Accra said last Wednesday.
“The vehicle with Coca Cola inscription was loaded with the consignment, which included pump action guns, double-barrel guns and a large quantity of cartridges,” Accra Regional Police Commander Rose Bio Atinga had told journalists last week.
Police, acting on a tip-off, arrested two Nigerians and three Ghanaians in the arms saga.
“After a check was conducted, we realised that the vehicle with a (Nigerian) registration number, was loaded with ammunition covered by a metal plate,” said Atinga. “Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed that the consignment was on its way to Nigeria,” she said.
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