FBI trail Abuja UN bomber’s relatives and associates.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has launched a grand scale manhunt for the relations and associates of the alleged UN building suicide bomber, Mohammed Abdul Barra.

It has also in conjunction with other security agencies started probing the claim of responsibility by the Boko Haram sect.

A spokesman for Boko Haram sect had last week claimed that the 27-year old Abul Barra detonated the bomb that killed 23 people at the UN House.

Investigations by our correspondent revealed that a probe has started into the claim by Boko Haram with investigators looking beyond the sect.

According to findings, preliminary forensic analysis suggested the use of "sophisticated explosives" typical of Al-Qaeda.

There were fears that Boko Haram's claim might be a decoy to divert the attention of the FBI, the UN and other experts probing the incident.

A top source said: "All the security agencies involved in the investigation are still looking at Boko Haram's claim that Mohammed Abul Barra did the havoc. But they are certainly considering many sides to it including the likelihood of the infiltration of Al-Qaeda members into Nigeria to bomb the UN House."

The usual reliable source added, "We are suspicious of Boko Haram's claim but we have noted it because this is not the first time it will lay claim to such. However, investigators are weighing a larger picture of other terrorist groups that might have been involved in the explosion."

As at press time last night, it was gathered that Nigerian security agencies were trying to establish the identity of the suicide bomber so as to ascertain his nationality.

Another source said: "We are trying to trace his antecedents if he is a Nigerian; who were his associates; where did he train; and how he became involved. If he is a Nigerian, we will try to locate his relations to get a few details on how he got to that level of a suicide mission.

"The issue is not just naming the suicide bomber; we have more leg work to do. One of the theories we are working on is the likelihood of invading Abuja from a suicide bombing base. Also, the particulars of the Honda car used for the bombing are also being investigated in Kano. It may take time; we will get clues at the end of the day."