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Nigeria to Charge Five in Connection With Deadly Bombing


Nigeria to Charge Five in Connection With Deadly Bombing
Nigeria to Charge Five in Connection With Deadly Bombing

Nigeria's Secret Service says five people will be charged in connection with deadly car bombings earlier this month in the capital. Those to be charged include the brother of ex-militant, Henry Okah.

Nigeria's Secret Service Spokeswoman Marilyn Ogar said Tuesday Charles Okah and four other suspects are to be charged in connection with independence day bombings that killed 12 people in the capital, Abuja.

"The following has been established: the person that drove and coordinated the vehicles brought into Abuja for the bombings, the one who directly coordinated the bombings with Henry Okah, the individual at whose residence in Port Harcourt the vehicles were wired for detonation and from where they took off for Abuja and the one who confirmed to his accomplice that he had completed the job immediately after the bombings," she said.

Ogar said that she could not give the names of the four other suspects for security reasons.

Nigerian state-run media reported earlier this month that police had questioned and released the presidential campaign director for former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, in connection with the bombing, but Ogar said she could not confirm this.

"It is not to my knowledge that he was invited in connection with the bomb blasts," she said. "Several Nigerians have been invited. The service will not be pushed to publish the names of those invited except [when] it has been confirmed that they have direct dealings with the incident under investigation."

Charles Okah, who was arrested Sunday, is the brother of ex-militant, Henry Okah, who was arrested in South Africa earlier this month and charged with terrorism for allegedly masterminding the bombings.

Henry Okah has denied involvement. He is believed to be the former leader of the militant group MEND, or the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, which has claimed responsibility for the attack.

MEND says it is fighting for a fairer distribution of wealth in the oil-rich Delta region.

In a statement Tuesday, MEND warned of another attack in Abuja.

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