Boko Haram uses Handset For Bombing

The  SSS (State Security Service), 18th November, 2011, gave the story of how six suspected members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, used GSM handsets to detonate Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, that led to the death of 28 persons between March and July this year. 

An investigation officer with the agency, Mr James Izi testifying to this prosecution said with the aid of mobile handsets, the suspects were able to set-off the IEDS at a reasonable distance.

He also said before the court that he has been involved in active investigation in the last 30 years, maintaining that the sect used the method to bomb the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Suleja, Niger state, on the eve of the presidential election in April.

About 16 persons, mostly ad-hoc workers engaged by INEC, lost their lives owing to the explosion.

The State Security Service, SSS, yesterday, narrated before a Federal High Court in Abuja, how six suspected members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, used GSM handsets to detonate Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, that led to the death of 28 persons between March and July this year.

An investigation officer with the agency, Mr James Izi who testified for this prosecution said with the aid of mobile handsets, the suspects were able to set-off the IEDS at a reasonable distance.

He also told the court that he has been involved in active investigation in the last 30 years, maintaining that the sect used the method to bomb the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Suleja, Niger state, on the eve of the presidential election.

About 16 persons, mostly ad-hoc workers engaged by INEC, lost their lives owing to the explosion.

Other places that he said were bombed with the same technique included the Dakna village, in Bwari, Abuja, on May 23, killing three Peace Officers, a church, the All Christian Fellowship Mission, ACFM, on July 10, killing three persons and the explosion that rocked a political rally in Suleja on March 3.

In his Examination-in-Chief , the witness said that sequel to recurring cases of bomb explosions in Niger state, the Director General of SSS, constituted a special team with a directive to trace, trail and apprehend masterminds of the heinous crime.

Consequently, the six accused persons, Shuaibu Abubakar a.k.a Abu Quatada, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana Umar, Mohammed Ali, Musa Adam and Umar Ibrahim, who he identified as kingpins of the Boko Haram cell in Niger state, were smoked out of their respective hiding places.

Specifically, he told the court that the 1st, 3rd and 4th accused persons were apprehended at Kachia LGA of Kaduna state by a team of naval officers on duty, adding that they were caught in the process of transporting 200 detonators, blasting cables (55 yards) used for priming IEDs.

According to him, “on August 4, one of the accused persons, Salisu Ahmed was arrested at the Tipper Garage in Abuja. He led SSS operatives to a bomb-making factory at Nasarawa-Iku, where bomb-compounding elements were recovered. A lot of handsets used for detonating IEDs from a distance were equally recovered.”

He further told the court that on August 30, one Moh’d Dalhatu, who he said sold most of the items used in manufacturing bombs, was arrested at Azara, Awe LGA in Nasarawa state, adding that one Ibrahim Bashir used AK-47 rifle to train most members of the Islamic terrorist sect on how to handle weapons.

Stressing that investigation by the SSS disclosed that the suspects spent over N500, 000 in procuring IEDs, the prosecution witness further told the trial court that the 5th accused person, Musa Adam, hitherto acted as a spiritual adviser to the group.

Meantime, counsel to the accused persons, Mr Kelvin Okoro yesterday, made frantic efforts to disparage the oral evidence that was tendered against his clients by the SSS investigator.

Drawing attention of the trial judge in the matter, justice Aliyu Bilkisu to the fact that fingerprints of the accused were taken after they were arrested, he contended that no footprint analysis was done with a view to pinning the accused persons to the alleged terrorist act.

The case has been adjourned till November 24 and 25 to enable the prosecution to call three more witnesses against the accused persons.

All the accused persons had ab-initio pleaded not guilty to a 5-count charge that was read to them via an interpreter.

They allegedly committed acts of terrorism by detonating improvised explosive devices at various locations within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Niger and Nasarawa states.

If convicted, the offence they allegedly committed is punishable with life imprisonment.

According to the charge sheet obtained by Saturday Vanguard, the accused person, “between June 4 and July 12, (both dates inclusive) at various locations in Suleja, Niger state, Azare, Nasarawa state and the FCT, did engage in an act of terrorism by encouraging through training persons now at large, the use of arms and ammunition, and the preparation, planting and detonation of improvised explosive devices for the purpose of terrorism and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 (2) of EFCC Act 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”The State Security Service, SSS, yesterday, narrated before a Federal High Court in Abuja, how six suspected members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, used GSM handsets to detonate Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, that led to the death of 28 persons between March and July this year.

An investigation officer with the agency, Mr James Izi who testified for this prosecution said with the aid of mobile handsets, the suspects were able to set-off the IEDS at a reasonable distance.

He also told the court that he has been involved in active investigation in the last 30 years, maintaining that the sect used the method to bomb the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Suleja, Niger state, on the eve of the presidential election.

About 16 persons, mostly ad-hoc workers engaged by INEC, lost their lives owing to the explosion.

Other places that he said were bombed with the same technique included the Dakna village, in Bwari, Abuja, on May 23, killing three Peace Officers, a church, the All Christian Fellowship Mission, ACFM, on July 10, killing three persons and the explosion that rocked a political rally in Suleja on March 3.

In his Examination-in-Chief , the witness said that sequel to recurring cases of bomb explosions in Niger state, the Director General of SSS, constituted a special team with a directive to trace, trail and apprehend masterminds of the heinous crime.

Consequently, the six accused persons, Shuaibu Abubakar a.k.a Abu Quatada, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana Umar, Mohammed Ali, Musa Adam and Umar Ibrahim, who he identified as kingpins of the Boko Haram cell in Niger state, were smoked out of their respective hiding places.

Specifically, he told the court that the 1st, 3rd and 4th accused persons were apprehended at Kachia LGA of Kaduna state by a team of naval officers on duty, adding that they were caught in the process of transporting 200 detonators, blasting cables (55 yards) used for priming IEDs.

According to him, “on August 4, one of the accused persons, Salisu Ahmed was arrested at the Tipper Garage in Abuja. He led SSS operatives to a bomb-making factory at Nasarawa-Iku, where bomb-compounding elements were recovered. A lot of handsets used for detonating IEDs from a distance were equally recovered.”

He further told the court that on August 30, one Moh’d Dalhatu, who he said sold most of the items used in manufacturing bombs, was arrested at Azara, Awe LGA in Nasarawa state, adding that one Ibrahim Bashir used AK-47 rifle to train most members of the Islamic terrorist sect on how to handle weapons.

Stressing that investigation by the SSS disclosed that the suspects spent over N500, 000 in procuring IEDs, the prosecution witness further told the trial court that the 5th accused person, Musa Adam, hitherto acted as a spiritual adviser to the group.

Meantime, counsel to the accused persons, Mr Kelvin Okoro yesterday, made frantic efforts to disparage the oral evidence that was tendered against his clients by the SSS investigator.

Drawing attention of the trial judge in the matter, justice Aliyu Bilkisu to the fact that fingerprints of the accused were taken after they were arrested, he contended that no footprint analysis was done with a view to pinning the accused persons to the alleged terrorist act.

The case has been adjourned till November 24 and 25 to enable the prosecution to call three more witnesses against the accused persons.

All the accused persons had ab-initio pleaded not guilty to a 5-count charge that was read to them via an interpreter.

They allegedly committed acts of terrorism by detonating improvised explosive devices at various locations within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Niger and Nasarawa states.

If convicted, the offence they allegedly committed is punishable with life imprisonment.

According to the charge sheet obtained by Saturday Vanguard, the accused person, “between June 4 and July 12, (both dates inclusive) at various locations in Suleja, Niger state, Azare, Nasarawa state and the FCT, did engage in an act of terrorism by encouraging through training persons now at large, the use of arms and ammunition, and the preparation, planting and detonation of improvised explosive devices for the purpose of terrorism and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 (2) of EFCC Act 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”

Other places that he said were bombed with the same technique included the Dakna village, in Bwari, Abuja, on May 23, killing three Peace Officers, a church, the All Christian Fellowship Mission, ACFM, on July 10, killing three persons and the explosion that rocked a political rally in Suleja on March 3.

In his Examination-in-Chief , the witness said that sequel to recurring cases of bomb explosions in Niger state, the Director General of SSS, constituted a special team with a directive to trace, trail and apprehend masterminds of the heinous crime.

Consequently, the six accused persons, Shuaibu Abubakar a.k.a Abu Quatada, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana Umar, Mohammed Ali, Musa Adam and Umar Ibrahim, who he identified as kingpins of the Boko Haram cell in Niger state, were smoked out of their respective hiding places.

Specifically, he told the court that the 1st, 3rd and 4th accused persons were apprehended at Kachia LGA of Kaduna state by a team of naval officers on duty, adding that they were caught in the process of transporting 200 detonators, blasting cables (55 yards) used for priming IEDs.

According to him, “on August 4, one of the accused persons, Salisu Ahmed was arrested at the Tipper Garage in Abuja. He led SSS operatives to a bomb-making factory at Nasarawa-Iku, where bomb-compounding elements were recovered. A lot of handsets used for detonating IEDs from a distance were equally recovered.”

He further told the court that on August 30, one Moh’d Dalhatu, who he said sold most of the items used in manufacturing bombs, was arrested at Azara, Awe LGA in Nasarawa state, adding that one Ibrahim Bashir used AK-47 rifle to train most members of the Islamic terrorist sect on how to handle weapons.

Stressing that investigation by the SSS disclosed that the suspects spent over N500, 000 in procuring IEDs, the prosecution witness further told the trial court that the 5th accused person, Musa Adam, hitherto acted as a spiritual adviser to the group.

Meantime, counsel to the accused persons, Mr Kelvin Okoro yesterday, made frantic efforts to disparage the oral evidence that was tendered against his clients by the SSS investigator.

Drawing attention of the trial judge in the matter, justice Aliyu Bilkisu to the fact that fingerprints of the accused were taken after they were arrested, he contended that no footprint analysis was done with a view to pinning the accused persons to the alleged terrorist act.

The case has been adjourned till November 24 and 25 to enable the prosecution to call three more witnesses against the accused persons.

All the accused persons had ab-initio pleaded not guilty to a 5-count charge that was read to them via an interpreter.

They allegedly committed acts of terrorism by detonating improvised explosive devices at various locations within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Niger and Nasarawa states.

If convicted, the offence they allegedly committed is punishable with life imprisonment.

According to the charge sheet obtained by Saturday Vanguard, the accused person, “between June 4 and July 12, (both dates inclusive) at various locations in Suleja, Niger state, Azare, Nasarawa state and the FCT, did engage in an act of terrorism by encouraging through training persons now at large, the use of arms and ammunition, and the preparation, planting and detonation of improvised explosive devices for the purpose of terrorism and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 (2) of EFCC Act 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”

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