by Akan Ido

The Spokesperson of the State Security Service, Marilyn Ogar has given an insight into the arrest and release of the Nyanya bombing mastermind, Aminu Sadik Owuche in 2011.

Ogar said Ogwuche who was recently re-arrested by Intepol after reportedly escaping to Sudan was set free in 2011 after intense pressure from his father, a retired colonel of the Nigerian Army, lawyers and the human rights community.

Ogar who spoke with journalists on Tuesday said, “He was arrested in 2011 when he came into the country from the United Kingdom. That was based on information that we had that he was involved in some terrorist activities. He was with us.”

She said the suspect had to be released on bail to his father following accusations from the human rights community that his rights are being deprived.

“We carried out further investigation. We started having lots of queries and enquiries from his father, the lawyers, and especially the human rights activists saying we were depriving him of his human rights.

“We had to make his father take him on bail based on the fact that when we need him, he would release him to us. And of course, when he was mentioned as one of those that had masterminded the Nyanya bombings, we went straight ahead to ask the father to release him to us. And of course, the father couldn’t produce him. So, based on that, we had to work with other sister agencies and we were told he is in Sudan,” she said.

She reiterated the security agencies’ resolve to tackle terrorism saying they can never be overwhelmed by the scourge.

“He was declared wanted. Because all security forces are working as one, the police had to do what they had to do and today the Interpol came in. So we can never be overwhelmed. We are dealing with terrorism,” she declared.

Sadiq was said to have been fingered in the bombing which took place at a busy bus park in Nyanya, Abuja on April 14 killing scores of people.