SSS discovers bomb-making factory in Suleja

Marilyn Ogar, SSS spokeswoman

SSS discovers bomb-making factory in Suleja

Nigeria’s State Security Service, SSS, on Tuesday discovered a bomb-making factory in Suleja, a town very close to Abuja, the seat of government.

The town has been hit by attacks including a deadly blast at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on the eve of April’s parliamentary vote which killed about 13 persons.

Another explosion near a church in Suleja in July killed at least three people.

Arrests

A suspect from the neighbouring Niger Republic is among those arrested in connection with the violence in Suleja and has allegedly confessed, SSS spokeswoman Marilyn Ogar told journalists.

"The suspects were linked to the Nigerian Islamist sect, Boko Haram, which has been blamed for scores of attacks in the country’’, said Ogar.

“A non-descript building where the improvised explosive devices are assembled has been uncovered”, she told journalists.

Ogar said materials recovered included a gas cylinder, detonator materials and other items.

Mastermind

Authorities did not speak of any connection to the August 26 suicide bombing of UN headquarters in Abuja that killed at least 23 people.

The government has been making renewed efforts to put a stop to a wave of bomb blasts in recent months, particularly following the UN attack, one of the deadliest targeting the world body.

Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the UN attack, and the secret service has claimed it was masterminded by an Al-Qaeda linked suspect who recently returned from Somalia. The suspect, identified as Mamman Nur, has been declared wanted.

Iheanacho (with agency report)/Ekata