Abuja — The Nigeria Police, in its renewed effort to stamp out terrorism in the country, Thursday arraigned seven terror suspects before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The suspects are: Usman Sani, Abdulrahman Musa, Mahmud Mohammed, Kabir Mohammed, Umar Danjuma, Ibrahim Musa Abba and Abdullahi Lawan.
A statement signed by the Force spokesperson, Mr. Frank Mba, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), stated that the suspects, who were arraigned on a 13-count charge of various offences under the Terrorism Prevention Act, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2011, were alleged to have been behind the bombing and robbery of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Alkalari branch in Bauchi State, on July 8, 2011.
The statement added that the sum of N17,830,136 were allegedly stolen by the suspects from the bank, as they were also accused of attacking and bombing the Alkaleri Divisional Police headquarters in the state.
The seven suspects were further alleged to have attacked and robbed Intercontinental Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank, both in Azare of the sum of N36,446,750.
The charges indicated that the suspects at different operations allegedly killed four persons, including three police officers. They were also charged for being in possession of assorted types of dangerous arms and an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) materials.
The statement noted that the suspects could, however, not take their plea as they had no legal representation before the court, a situation, which the court considered fundamental to warrant the adjournment of the case to a date in April, to enable the suspects secure legal representation. The suspects are expected to take their plea when the court resumes trial on the adjourned date-April 10.
Meanwhile, the seven suspects have been remanded in prison custody to enable them secure the services of legal practitioners of their choice, in exercise of their fundamental human rights.
While reassuring the masses that the Force would continue to ensure that the suspects were diligently and conclusively prosecuted; as a deterrent to other criminally-minded persons in the country. the Force appealed to well meaning Nigerians to assist security agencies, especially, the Nigeria Police, to volunteer useful information about the activities of criminal groups or individuals, to assist in the fight against crime and criminality.
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