The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested the mastermind of the bomb explosion in front of the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in Okene, Kogi State, hours before the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the state on December 29, 2022.
Three people were killed and three others injured as a bomb exploded near the palace of the Ohiniyi of Ebira Land, Okene, Kogi State on December 29.
That the explosion occurred about 100 meters to the OKene Reference Hospital which was later commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari.
A moving vehicle laden with explosives exploded in front of the parlance of the Ohiniyi of Ebira Land, Okene, before the commissioning of the hospital scheduled for 9am.
Spokesman of the DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said in a statement on Wednesday that the key suspect, Abdulmumin Ibrahim Otaru aka Abu Mikdad and one of his associates, Saidu Sulaiman, were arrested on 3rd January, 2023 while attempting to escape.
Afunanya said that Otaru was shot on the left foot as he made to escape and is being treated at an undisclosed hospital.
He described Otaru as a high commander of the Islamic State of West Africa who either coordinated or was involved in the series of terror attacks.
“During investigations, it was ascertained that Otaru was a high Commander of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and either coordinated or was involved in the following dastardly operations: the 24th June, 2022 attack on Nigeria Police Area Command, Eika-Ohizenyi, Okehi LGA of Kogi State during which a Police Inspector, Idris MUSA was killed and two (2) AK-47 rifles carted away in that attack; the 5th July, 2022 attack on Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje Area Council of the FCT; and 5th August, 2022 attack on West African Ceramics Ltd (WACL) in Ajaokuta LGA, Kogi in which three Indian expatriates were kidnapped.
“It would be recalled that five persons including one Indian, two Policemen and two drivers of the company were also killed in the attack. The kidnapped expatriates were released on 31st August, 2022.
”Otaru operated terrorist cells in and around Kogi State. Similarly, he and his gang had staged several kidnap operations in Kogi and Ondo States.
Meanwhile, the suspects are in custody and will be prosecuted accordingly.” the statement further stated.
The DSS restated its determination to to collaborate with sister security agencies to fight the scourge of terrorism to ensure safety and security of the country.
The agency called on the citizenry to give it and other law enforcement agencies the requisite support to ensure maintenance of peace and security in the nation.