Directorate of the State Security, DSS yesterday confirmed that Col. Agene Ogwuche (rtd), father of a co-mastermind of Nyanya April 14 bomb blast, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, is being held over his son’s abscondment after he was granted bail for a crime in 2011.
Although Sadiq was on Wednesday arrested in the Republic of Sudan by INTERPOL, the DSS insisted that Col. Agene Ogwuche will not be released until the fugitive son is extradited to Nigeria.
Spokesperson of the DSS, Marilyn Ogar gave this information yesterday in Abuja during the daily press briefing by the coordinator of the National Information Centre on the rescue of Chibok girls and Director-General of National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mike Omeri.
Omeri had earlier told a press conference that the extradition processes of the fugitive was ongoing.
Also, the NOA boss also confirmed the ambush and killing of Boko Haram members by villagers in a community in Borno State.
“Considering that extradition process takes some time to conclude, the terror fugitive, Sadiq Ogwuche’s arrival in Nigeria is still being awaited. Meanwhile, the relevant officials are working round the clock to conclude the process to bring him to the country to face justice. Further development on this will be communicated”, Omeri assured.
Nigerian Pilot however, gathered that if Sadiq is a British citizen, since it was alleged he was born there, then the extradition process might take a bit longer. But Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba assured that even at that, the fugitive’s father, Col. Agene Ogwuche is a Nigerian and the law permits that Sadiq be repatriated.
“Nigeria and Sudan also have bilateral relations so we are sure that the extradition process will not take long. The father, who took him on bail is a Nigerian and that was why the day we could not reach out to Sadiq, we took the father in”, Ms. Ogar revealed.
In a related development, NOA DG confirmed that there was a clash between the local vigilante group/youth and Boko Haram insurgents in Kalabalge town in Borno State.
Omeri revealed that the residents of the town got wind of an impending attack on their town by the insurgents and therefore mobilised against the attackers. He however said the number of casualties will be confirmed by the military authorities in due course.
Earlier, reports suggested that over 200 insurgents were killed in the said attack, when villagers ambushed invading insurgents early morning yesterday, several insurgents were also reportedly arrested alive by the villagers.
Ogwuche an ex-soldier deserted the Nigerian Army in 2006. He served in the intelligence unit of the Nigerian Army at Child Avenue, Arakan Barracks, Lagos between 2001 and 2005, and was posted to the Nigerian Defence.
Academy, NDA in 2006, but instead of reporting at the NDA, Ogwuche deserted”.
Fugitive Ogwuche was arrested on November 12, 2011 at Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport, Abuja on his arrival from the UK, for suspected involvement in terrorism-related activities but was released on bail on October 15, 2012 to his father, Col. Agene Ogwuche (Rtd) following intense pressure from human rights activists who alleged human rights violation.
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