Nigerian intelligence services said they foiled plans to attack key buildings in the capital including the presidential palace as they arrested nine over the independence day bombings that killed 12 people. The National Assembly building and the secret services headquarters are also located in the area that had been targeted by bombers who two days later set off two car bombs near a square hosting independence day ceremonies.
"The despicable act of terrorism which eventually took place on October 1, was planned for Wednesday 29 September 2010, but was foiled as soon as the information was received during the early hours of 28 September 2010," said Marilyn Ogar, spokeswoman of the State Security Service (SSS).
Nine people believed to have links with a prominent former militant leader, Henry Okah, have been arrested in connection with Friday's deadly bombings. "So far nine arrests have been made and all have direct links with Henry Okah, the incident and some unscrupulous prominent elements in the society," Ogar told reporters.
She refused to give details on the suspects. Police had earlier said they were holding one suspect, a foreigner, and were hunting down two Nigerians thought to be the masterminds of the attacks, but it was not clear if they were among the nine. Okah, the former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), was arrested on Saturday in Johannesburg, the day after the twin car bombings which occurred less than a kilometre from the venue of Nigeria's 50th independence festivities. Statements in the name of MEND, a Nigerian militant group based in the southern oil rich region, have claimed responsibility for the bombings. Ogar said the arrested suspects "have direct links to Henry Okah, not MEND."
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