Terrorism here to stay – Azazi, NSA

Boko Haram bomb factory uncovered KINGSLEY OMONOBI & DANIEL IDONOR UNCOVERED-Nasarawa -Iku Village, Suleja, Niger State discovered by SSS where Bombs allegedly are manufactured. Photos: Gbemiga Olamikan.  advertisement ABUJA-The Department of State Security (SSS) disclosed yesterday that it has uncovered the building where the Boko Haram cell operating in the Suleija/Abuja axis manufactured and assembled their bombs, noting that the improvised explosive devices were assembled at a non-descript building located at a popular area known as Chechnya, Hayin-Uku village in Tafa LGA, Niger State. Also National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi said yesterday that the nation’s security outfits were caught unawares by the new dimension introduced by Boko Haram sect, declaring that terrorism has come to stay. In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, the SSS further disclosed that five Boko Haram suspects including an Ibo indigene from Imo State who converted to Islam; a Nigerien, and the main supplier of the explosive materials used for their bombing operations, a miner from Nasarawa State, have been arrested. The suspects according to the SSS statement, confessed to perpetrating the bombing of the INEC office, Suleija on 8th April, 2011 and the All Christian Fellowship Church, Suleija, Niger State on 10th, July 2011. They also confessed that they took part in the killing of four (4) policemen at a check-point at Dakwa-Deidei in Bwari Area Council of the FCT on 22nd May, 2011. When SSS operatives stormed the building where the bombs are being manufactured, several bomb making 'merchandise of death' were recovered including One (1) gas cylinder; One battery connected to a detonator; two (2) damaged detonators; One (1) locally made revolver; and One (1) gun butt. Others are two (2) knives; ten (10) GSM handsets with SIM cards; One (1) ceiling fan coil; two (2) laptop computers; 37 unused metallic oil filters; two (2) metallic filters primed for bombing; two (2) metallic cylinders; One (1) clock connected to a primed bladeless ceiling fan with 9 volts batteries ready for use; Some pieces of shrapnel; and a Honda Civic car with Borno State registration number AG94MNG; Also recovered were two hundred (200) pieces of detonators; some detonating cords (red colour); a Sony remote control, 5 battery chargers; and a black bag containing detonating cables. Already, the SSS operatives have cordoned off the building. According to the statement "the six suspects are responsible for the following: The bombing of INEC office Suleja; Bombing of All Christian Fellowship Church Suleja; and the killing of four (4) Policemen at Dakwa-Deidei in the FCT. The suspects will soon be charged to court". It called on all Nigerians to be more security conscious and vigilant, while urging the general public to cooperate with security agencies. Some of the recovered items on display by the SSS yesterday. Photos: Gbemiga Olamikan The full text of the statement reads, " Following the bombings at the INEC office, Suleja on 8th April, 2011 and the All Christians Fellowship Church, Suleja, Niger State on 10th July, 2011, this Service commenced investigation to unravel the perpetrator" "Consequently, on 4th August, 2011, a suspect who is a Nigerian national was apprehended in connection with the bombing incident in Suleja. He confessed to his involvement in the bombings as well as his membership of the Boko Haram sect". "His confession led to the arrest of a thirty-one (31) year old indigene of Imo State who converted to Islam in 2003. The second suspect, who is born of a Nigerian mother, was brought up in Niger Republic , where he had his early education. He also admitted to being a member of the Boko Haram sect as well as having worked in concert with a third suspect from Kano State to carry out attacks in Suleja". "Their confessions led to further arrest of two accomplices from Borno State . The five (5) suspects all confessed that the main supplier of the explosive materials used for their bombing operations is a miner from Nasarawa State , who the Service eventually arrested on 30th August, 2011. They also confessed that they took part in the killing of four (4) policemen at a check-point at Dakwa-Deidei in Bwari Area Council of the FCT on 22nd May, 2011". "Investigation has indeed revealed that the suspects belong to the Boko Haram cell operating in the Suleja-Abuja axis which is under the direction and control of a blood-thirsty Boko Haram leader who is now at large. Meanwhile, a non-descript building where the Improvised Explosive Devices (I.E.Ds) are assembled has been uncovered at an area popularly known as Chechnya , Hayin-Uku village in Tafa LGA , Niger State". Read more on Azazi’s statement ‘Terrorism here to stay’ Among items recovered in the merchandise of death are: i. One (1) gas cylinder; ii. One battery connected to a detonator; iii. Two (2) damaged detonators; iv. One (1) locally made revolver; v. One (1) gun butt; vi. Two (2) knives; vii. Ten (10) GSM handsets with SIM cards; viii. One (1) ceiling fan coil; ix. Two (2) laptop computers; x. Thirty seven (37) unused metallic oil filters; xi. Two (2) metallic filters primed for bombing; xii. Two (2) metallic cylinders; xiii. One (1) clock connected to a primed bladeless ceiling fan with 9 volts batteries ready for use; xiv. Some pieces of shrapnel; xv. Honda Civic car with Borno State registration number AG94MNG; xvi. Two hundred (200) pieces of detonators; xvii. Some detonating cords (red colour); xviii. A Sony remote control xix. Five (5) battery chargers; and xx. a black bag containing detonating cables. 5. In effect the six suspects are responsible for the following: i. The bombing of INEC office Suleja; ii. Bombing of All Christian Fellowship Church Suleja; and iii. The killing of four (4) Policemen at Dakwa-Deidei in the FCT. The suspects will soon be charged to court. "The Service is therefore calling on all Nigerians to be more security conscious and vigilant, while urging the general public to cooperate with security agencies".