Police nab Christmas Day bomber in governor's lodge

Kabir Sokoto [/b]is alleged to have masterminded the December 25 attack on St Theresa's Catholic Church
ARTICLE | JANUARY 15, 2012 - 8:37AM | BY CHIDI OKOYE

The police have arrested a man suspected to be the mastermind of the Christmas Day bombing of St. Theresa's Catholic Church, Madalla, near Abuja.

[b]Kabir Sokoto was arrested alongside a serving military officer whose name is yet to be disclosed at the Borno State Governor's lodge in Asokoro District, Abuja.

Police sources claim Sokoto orchestrated the attack in which over 40 people died. The Islamic Sect, Boko Haram, claimed responsibility for the bombing.

The Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, has reportedly briefed President Goodluck Jonathan on the breakthrough.

"Following a tip-off, the suspect was arrested early on Saturday morning while in hiding at the Liaison Office in Abuja," said a police officer who did not want his name published. "He was said to be in transit to London. For weeks, we have been working on clues that the suspect was one of the masterminds of the Christmas Day bombing.

He is being interrogated by a special team of senior officers on how St. Theresa’s Catholic Church bombing was perpetrated. The interrogation may also involve other security agencies since a serving military officer was with him when he was picked up."

The suspect allegedly left Maiduguri on Friday via Kaduna. And arrived at Abuja to catch a flight to London. It is unclear what role the military officer played, however police sources claim he was hired to provide security for the fugitive.

"Oblivious to the fact that he was a Boko Haram member, the Permanent Secretary in charge of the lodge decided to be magnanimous to give him free accommodation for a night," said the police source. "But intelligence agents trailing the suspect on the phone succeeded in tracing him to the lodge through a GPRS device.

This led to the storming of the lodge in the early hours of Saturday leading to the arrest of the serving military officer and some staff on duty. But after interaction with the staff, they were released by the police on bail pending the conclusion of a comprehensive investigation.”

http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/police-nab-christmas-day-bomber-governors-lodge