·
Bomber says they acted
alone
Bomber says they acted
alone
A suspected member of
Boko Haram, Mustapha Umar, who is being tried for allegedly attempting to
bomb SOJ Plaza – occupied by THISDAY, Sun and The Moment Newspapers
on Kontagora Road, Kaduna, on April 26, 2012 has confessed that he and
his friends planned the attack.
Boko Haram, Mustapha Umar, who is being tried for allegedly attempting to
bomb SOJ Plaza – occupied by THISDAY, Sun and The Moment Newspapers
on Kontagora Road, Kaduna, on April 26, 2012 has confessed that he and
his friends planned the attack.
Umar made the
confession in an interview conducted by the police shortly after he was
arrested when his attack failed.
confession in an interview conducted by the police shortly after he was
arrested when his attack failed.
The recorded interview
contained in a video compact disc (VCD) was tendered before the Federal High
Court, sitting in Abuja Wednesday by the prosecution lawyer, Simon Labaran.
contained in a video compact disc (VCD) was tendered before the Federal High
Court, sitting in Abuja Wednesday by the prosecution lawyer, Simon Labaran.
The video was
played in the open court.
played in the open court.
Although conducted in
Hausa, a court interpreter interpreted the interview in English.
Hausa, a court interpreter interpreted the interview in English.
In the interview,
Umar said he coordinated the attacks on THISDAY Abuja office and the one
in Kaduna and was not supported by Boko Haram.
Umar said he coordinated the attacks on THISDAY Abuja office and the one
in Kaduna and was not supported by Boko Haram.
He said his
intention was to wreck the organisation for publishing materials
that allegedly denigrated Prophet Mohammed.
intention was to wreck the organisation for publishing materials
that allegedly denigrated Prophet Mohammed.
Umar, 34, a Kanuri
from Borno State and a widower with children, said he was not a member of Boko
Haram.
from Borno State and a widower with children, said he was not a member of Boko
Haram.
He told his
interviewer that the attacks, for which he was being tried, were coordinated by
him and his friends trained under Sheikh Ja’afar M’adam in Maiduguri.
interviewer that the attacks, for which he was being tried, were coordinated by
him and his friends trained under Sheikh Ja’afar M’adam in Maiduguri.
Umar stated that while
the Kaduna bombing was done with his private Honda car he bought a year
earlier, the bombing of THISDAY office in Abuja was carried out by his friend –
Alhaji – with his (Alhaji’s) sport utility vehicle (SUV).
the Kaduna bombing was done with his private Honda car he bought a year
earlier, the bombing of THISDAY office in Abuja was carried out by his friend –
Alhaji – with his (Alhaji’s) sport utility vehicle (SUV).
In the interview, he
said: “Can you hear me? What happened was that THISDAY newspaper insulted
Prophet Mohammed. From when a beauty contest was to be conducted and THISDAY
newspaper insulted Prophet Mohammed that was why I went and did this so as to
take revenge.
said: “Can you hear me? What happened was that THISDAY newspaper insulted
Prophet Mohammed. From when a beauty contest was to be conducted and THISDAY
newspaper insulted Prophet Mohammed that was why I went and did this so as to
take revenge.
“My intention was
to eliminate them so that they would not exist again. You know, he who insults
a prophet of God is not supposed to exist.
to eliminate them so that they would not exist again. You know, he who insults
a prophet of God is not supposed to exist.
“There is the
tradition of the prophet, which says that whoever insults the prophet of Allah
shall be killed. For some years back, I have been praying to God to give me
this opportunity to perpetrate this action and today, God has given me the
chance.
tradition of the prophet, which says that whoever insults the prophet of Allah
shall be killed. For some years back, I have been praying to God to give me
this opportunity to perpetrate this action and today, God has given me the
chance.
“But the Boko
Haram you are talking about, if I belonged to them, I will not come to a
newspaper house. What do they have? Are they not publishing newspaper? But they
(THISDAY) insulted the prophet of God in the newspaper they published and who
insults a prophet also insults God.
Haram you are talking about, if I belonged to them, I will not come to a
newspaper house. What do they have? Are they not publishing newspaper? But they
(THISDAY) insulted the prophet of God in the newspaper they published and who
insults a prophet also insults God.
“I promised
myself that as long as I live, whoever insults a prophet of God, I will
revenge.”
myself that as long as I live, whoever insults a prophet of God, I will
revenge.”
When asked who made
the explosives with which he had planned to bomb the house, he said he made it
with his friends.
the explosives with which he had planned to bomb the house, he said he made it
with his friends.
“Myself, Ibrahim
and the one who did the bomb blast (in Abuja) are together. We all agreed that
whoever insulted the prophet of God, we would revenge,” he added.
and the one who did the bomb blast (in Abuja) are together. We all agreed that
whoever insulted the prophet of God, we would revenge,” he added.
On whether he was
disappointed that the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) he took to the
plaza did not explode immediately, he said he was helpless because it was God’s
wish.
disappointed that the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) he took to the
plaza did not explode immediately, he said he was helpless because it was God’s
wish.
“It is God that
did not allow it to explode. I waited. It did not explode. Then, I came out
from the car, trying to leave, I was blocked by the people, who started beating
and even broke my hand,” Umar said.
did not allow it to explode. I waited. It did not explode. Then, I came out
from the car, trying to leave, I was blocked by the people, who started beating
and even broke my hand,” Umar said.
The trail judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola admitted in evidence a
translated transcription of the interview conducted in Hausa.
With the admission of the exhibit, the prosecution closed its case.
translated transcription of the interview conducted in Hausa.
With the admission of the exhibit, the prosecution closed its case.
The defence led by
Nureini Sulaiman has said he was going to make a no case submission.
Nureini Sulaiman has said he was going to make a no case submission.
Justice Ademola
adjourned until June 24 for adoption of all processes in respect of the
defence’s no-case submission.
adjourned until June 24 for adoption of all processes in respect of the
defence’s no-case submission.
Source: Thisday
