October 1 marked the 50th anniversary of Nigerian independence from British rule, but this year the celebrations was also marked by a series of deadly bombings that left 12 people dead. A Nigerian rebel group claimed responsibility for the bombings but it has now come to light that a small terrorist group from outside Nigeria may be behind the attacks.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said, “It is a small terrorist group that resides outside Nigeria that was paid by some people within to perpetrate the dastardly act. We are on their trail.”
The two explosions occurred in the West African nation’s capital Abuja during Independence Day celebrations. The Nigerian state-run television station NTA said that one person had been arrested by police in connection with the attacks, and two others have been declared wanted.
Another arrest was made in South Africa on October 2. The lawyer to Henry Okah, the former leader of the rebel group which had apparently declared their responsibility for the bombings, confirmed he was detained in Johannesburg on Saturday. Okah now denies his group, Mend, was behind the bombings and several senior leaders of Mend have condemned the attacks.
Jonathan, who succeeded former Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua after he died in May this year, released a statement saying that members of Mend “know nothing” about the claims of responsibility and reiterated that it was outsiders who committed the attack.
Okah will still go to trial on Monday in relation to the Independence Day attacks.
