Army Deserter And Co-Mastermind Of Nyanya Bombings, Aminu Ogwuche, Reportedly Arrested In Sudan

The efforts by Nigeria’s security agencies led by the Department of State Security Services (SSS) to apprehend those behind the April 14 bomb blast at a motor park in Nyanya, Abuja, paid off with the arrest of a co-mastermind of the dastardly act, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche in faraway Sudan.

The DSS had on Monday during a joint press briefing with other arms of Nigeria’s security agencies, declared Ogwuche, a military deserter and one Rufai Tsiga, still at large, wanted for the first, in a series of bombing that would rock Nyanya.

The Deputy Director, Public Relations, DSS, Marilyn Ogar, also announced a cash reward of N25 million to anyone that could provide credible information that would lead to the arrest of Tsiga and Ogwuche.

“Rufai Abubakar Tsiga, a Boko Haram leader, is the mastermind of the bombing of April 14, 2014 at El-Rufai Motor Park, Abuja.Tsiga was actively aided by a co-mastermind, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche”, Ogar said.

Earlier, the service had paraded five suspects – Ahmad Abubakar (aka Abu Ibrahim/Mai Turare), Mohammed Ishaq, Yau Saidu (aka Kotar Rama) Anas Isah and Adamu Yusuf – they confessed to been privy to the plot to bomb Nyanya.

Ogwuche, the son of a retired army colonel, Agene Ogwuche, was reportedly arrested through the help of the Military Attaché to the Nigerian High Commission in Sudan with the help of international security operatives, National Daily Newspaper reports.

The suspect is a student of Arabic Language at the International University of Africa, Sudan, and is a British-born Nigerian.

Ogwuche was formerly of the Nigerian Army with service number SVC 95/104 but was said to have deserted in 2006.

According to the DSS, he served in the Intelligence Unit of the Nigerian Army at Child Avenue, Arakan Barracks, Lagos, between 2001 and 2006.

He was allegedly involved in terrorist activities which led to his arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Nov. 12, 2011 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on arrival from the UK.

However, he was released on bail to his father, retired Col. Agene Ogwuche on Oct. 15, 2012, following intense pressure from human rights activists, who alleged human rights violation.

Almost two years later, Ogwuche would be the co-mastermind of an unforgettable and well-executed bomb blast in Nyanya, an Abuja suburb, which killed over 70 people and left scores injured.