The State Security Service (SSS) yesterday narrated how its efforts to prevent suicide bombers from carrying out their deadly attack on the UN House last week failed. It also claimed that two Boko Haram suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident, while another had been declared wanted.

The SSS statement contradicts claims by inspector-general of police Hafiz Ringim that the police didn’t get a prior warning before the attack.

Reacting to what it described as “various speculations and misrepresentations in the media”, in a press statement signed by its assistant director (public relations), Ms Marilyn Ogar, the SSS said it got intelligence on the planned activities of the suspects and made efforts with other security agencies to prevent them.
The SSS stated: “On August 18, 2011, precise intelligence was obtained by this service that Boko Haram elements were on a mission to attack unspecified target in Abuja in an ash-colour Toyota Camry vehicle with registration number AA 539GBL.

“On August 21, 2011, at about 13hours, joint operations by all security services led to the arrest of two notorious leaders of the Boko Haram extremist sect, namely: Babagana Ismail Kwaljima (a.k.a. Summaya) and Babagana Mali (a.k.a. Bulama).”
The agency added that, following their arrest, security was further beefed up in Abuja and its environs, all in an attempt to stop them from carrying out their mission.

It said that the suspects had made valuable statements and were being held in a military facility.
The SSS statement added, “Investigation has revealed that one Mammar Nur, a notorious Boko Haram element with Al-Qaeda links, who returned recently from Somalia, working in concert with the two suspects, masterminded the attack on the United Nations Building in Abuja.”

It further disclosed that “the car used for the attack was a Honda car with Kano State registration number AV38NSR. It was purchased on September 3, 2002 and registered on December 3, 2002. The vehicle identification number is 1HGCBA7400A100748, engine number, F22A72000540.”
The security service reiterated its commitment to “ensuring that we have a safe, peaceful and secure environment. We want to reassure Nigerians that we have no other country and we must all strive to maintain its unity which is currently being threatened”.

The agency called on Nigerians to be more security-conscious and vigilant, while urging the general public to cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could lead to the arrest of Mamman Nur “who is hereby declared wanted”.




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