ABUJA — Nigerian
authorities on Friday re-
arrested the alleged
mastermind of a
Christmas Day church
bombing that killed at
least 44 people after he
escaped in suspicious
circumstances, a security
source said.
The escape of Kabiru
Sokoto, an alleged
member of Islamist group
Boko Haram, had led to
mounting pressure on the
government and security
agencies
"He was re-arrested this
morning at Mutum Biu in
Taraba State by the
(secret police)," a
security source told AFP,
referring to a state in
central Nigeria. "He's
being flown to Abuja now
by the Nigeria air force."
Sokoto is accused of
being behind the bombing
of a Catholic church in
Madalla outside the
capital Abuja on
December 25.
He allegedly fled last
month while police took
him for a search of his
house. Police have
claimed their convoy was
attacked by suspected
Boko Haram members.
Suspicions had been
raised over Sokoto's
escape, amid
longstanding allegations
of links between Boko
Haram members and
politicians and a police
force riddled with
corruption.
Even the circumstances
of the suspect's original
arrest were shadowy.
He had been arrested at
a lodge belonging to the
governor for
northeastern Borno state
in Abuja. All Nigerian
states have such lodges
in the capital.
Borno state and
especially its capital of
Maiduguri are Boko
Haram's historic base.
Inwa Bwala, the state
information commissioner,
has suggested Sokoto
was smuggled into the
lodge by a Borno native
who was cleared to
spend the night.
Boko Haram has been
blamed for scores of
attacks that have shaken
Africa's most populous
nation and largest oil
producer.
authorities on Friday re-
arrested the alleged
mastermind of a
Christmas Day church
bombing that killed at
least 44 people after he
escaped in suspicious
circumstances, a security
source said.
The escape of Kabiru
Sokoto, an alleged
member of Islamist group
Boko Haram, had led to
mounting pressure on the
government and security
agencies
"He was re-arrested this
morning at Mutum Biu in
Taraba State by the
(secret police)," a
security source told AFP,
referring to a state in
central Nigeria. "He's
being flown to Abuja now
by the Nigeria air force."
Sokoto is accused of
being behind the bombing
of a Catholic church in
Madalla outside the
capital Abuja on
December 25.
He allegedly fled last
month while police took
him for a search of his
house. Police have
claimed their convoy was
attacked by suspected
Boko Haram members.
Suspicions had been
raised over Sokoto's
escape, amid
longstanding allegations
of links between Boko
Haram members and
politicians and a police
force riddled with
corruption.
Even the circumstances
of the suspect's original
arrest were shadowy.
He had been arrested at
a lodge belonging to the
governor for
northeastern Borno state
in Abuja. All Nigerian
states have such lodges
in the capital.
Borno state and
especially its capital of
Maiduguri are Boko
Haram's historic base.
Inwa Bwala, the state
information commissioner,
has suggested Sokoto
was smuggled into the
lodge by a Borno native
who was cleared to
spend the night.
Boko Haram has been
blamed for scores of
attacks that have shaken
Africa's most populous
nation and largest oil
producer.
No comments