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Boko
Haram insurgents (Image source: PREMIUM TIMES)
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Nigeria's security agency said on Sunday
it had made significant breakthroughs in the fight against Boko Haram and arrested
20 prominent members of the militant Islamist group accused of orchestrating
deadly attacks. President
Muhammadu Buhari has made halting Boko Haram's six-year-old insurgency a
priority, but a Reuters tally shows the militants have killed more than 700 people
in Nigeria in bomb attacks and shootings since he came to office on May 29.
In the
latest violence, around 56 people were killed by suspected Boko Haram gunmen at
a village in northeastern Borno state on Friday night, Borno state governor
Kashim Shettima said late on Saturday.
The
Department of State Services (DSS) said on Sunday that 20 "notable
commanders and frontline members" of the jihadist group had been arrested
in Lagos, Kano, Plateau, Enugu and Gombe states between July 8 and Aug. 25 this
year.
Reuters report continues:
The DSS
said it had arrested those suspected of coordinating attacks earlier this year
in the northern cities of Potiskum, Kano and Zaria, as well as the central city
of Jos, adding that a number of them had made confessions.
"This
followed the rounding up of notable commanders and frontline members of the
notorious group from different parts of the country," DSS spokesman Tony
Opuiyo said in a statement.
Providing
an unusual level of detail, the DSS said one of those arrested, Usman Shuaibu,
had confessed to leading a team of nine militants which planned several
attacks. Others were accused of ordering attacks, preparing bombs and strapping
explosives to suicide bombers.
"The
arrest of Usman Shuaibu, aka Money, and the core members of his cell, stemmed the
spate of bombings by the extremist sect," said Opuiyo.
Boko
Haram's campaign to create a state adhering to strict Islamic law in the
northeast of Africa's most populous country has left thousands dead and forced
around 1.5 million people to flee their homes since 2009.
The
insurgents scattered earlier this year after an army counter-offensive, but
have since returned to a strategy of selective attacks in which they have
bombed or fired on targets in public places such as markets and places of
worship.
Opuiyo
said the geographical spread of the arrests suggested the militants were moving
beyond their usual targets in the northeast to other areas, including Lagos
state.
On
Saturday, the DSS said it had uncovered a spy cell run by militants at the
international airport in the capital Abuja, apparently aimed at selecting
targets for attack.
Buhari has been working
with neighbouring states to set up an 8,700-strong regional military task force
to fight the insurgency.
SSS Arrests 10 Major Boko Haram Leaders
In Lagos, Enugu
PREMIUM TIMES reports
that the State Security Service, SSS, has stated that it arrested over a dozen
Boko Haram leaders in the past two months including nine in Lagos and one in
Enugu State.
The SSS, also known as
DSS, said this in a statement by its spokesperson, Tony Opuiyo, on Sunday.
Mr. Opuiyo said “the
sudden influx of Boko Haram members into Lagos State points to the
determination of the sect to extend its nefarious terrorist activities to the
State and in fact, other parts of the country.”
The Boko Haram, whose
terrorist activities has caused the death of about 20,000 people, has only
carried out attacks in Northern Nigeria, particularly in the north-east.
According to the
spokesperson, “the arrest of these confessed terrorist elements has however
helped in no small measure to avert devastating attacks in the area.”
Read the full SSS statement below:
Read the full SSS statement below:
In line with the Department of State Services’,
DSS, re-strategized Counter Terrorism measures to combat the menace of the Boko
Haram insurgency in Nigeria, the Service has continued to make significant
breakthroughs in this direction. This followed the rounding up of notable
commanders and frontline members of the notorious group from different parts of
the country. It should be noted that the group’s new pattern of movement and
spread is necessitated by the pressure being put on them in their core areas of
strength in the North East.
2. Consequently, a number of them have been arrested in Lagos, Kano, Plateau, Enugu and Gombe States between July 8 and August 25, 2015. Of particular note was the arrest on July 8, 2015 in Gombe State of those responsible for the coordination and execution of the suicide attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria and Jos. They are:
Usman SHUAIBU (a. k. a. Money):
3. SHUAIBU revealed that he coordinated the attacks under reference with the sum of N500,000 which was provided by his Amir, one Isa ALI. He claimed that the said Isa ALI has links to the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar SHEKAU, from where he collects monies to fund operations undertaken by their Markaz. Also, he revealed that he has participated in several Boko Haram attacks, including the attacks at Gwoza Divisional Police Station in 2014.
4. SHUAIBU admitted being the leader of the team of nine (9) sect members that was dispatched from Sambisa Forest to carry out the attacks. He disclosed that four out of the nine of them were used as suicide bombers in executing all the (suicide) attacks.
Ahmed MOHAMMED (aka ABUBAKAR):
5. Suspect, an IED expert, confessed to the preparation of the IEDs used for the mentioned attacks. He also averred that he was the one who strapped the suicide bombers, notably SULE and his wives, with IED vests, which they used in the attacks in Jos.
Adamu ABDULLAHI (aka Babpa)
6. Suspect confessed that Usman SHUAIBU motivated him to work closely with Ahmed MOHAMMED (aka ABUBAKAR) in the preparation of the IEDs used in the attacks under reference.
Ibrahim ISA
7. Suspect confessed that he was the one who carried out reconnaissance on the targets in Jos ahead of the attacks.
2. Consequently, a number of them have been arrested in Lagos, Kano, Plateau, Enugu and Gombe States between July 8 and August 25, 2015. Of particular note was the arrest on July 8, 2015 in Gombe State of those responsible for the coordination and execution of the suicide attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria and Jos. They are:
Usman SHUAIBU (a. k. a. Money):
3. SHUAIBU revealed that he coordinated the attacks under reference with the sum of N500,000 which was provided by his Amir, one Isa ALI. He claimed that the said Isa ALI has links to the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar SHEKAU, from where he collects monies to fund operations undertaken by their Markaz. Also, he revealed that he has participated in several Boko Haram attacks, including the attacks at Gwoza Divisional Police Station in 2014.
4. SHUAIBU admitted being the leader of the team of nine (9) sect members that was dispatched from Sambisa Forest to carry out the attacks. He disclosed that four out of the nine of them were used as suicide bombers in executing all the (suicide) attacks.
Ahmed MOHAMMED (aka ABUBAKAR):
5. Suspect, an IED expert, confessed to the preparation of the IEDs used for the mentioned attacks. He also averred that he was the one who strapped the suicide bombers, notably SULE and his wives, with IED vests, which they used in the attacks in Jos.
Adamu ABDULLAHI (aka Babpa)
6. Suspect confessed that Usman SHUAIBU motivated him to work closely with Ahmed MOHAMMED (aka ABUBAKAR) in the preparation of the IEDs used in the attacks under reference.
Ibrahim ISA
7. Suspect confessed that he was the one who carried out reconnaissance on the targets in Jos ahead of the attacks.
Muttaqa YUSUF (aka Mohammed SANI/Mudtaka):
8. Suspect disclosed that one ALIYU,
believed to be Aliyu GOMBE, in Sambisa forest, was the one that ordered the
serial attacks which the syndicate carried out. He further confessed that he
assisted Usman SHUAIBU in planning and executing the said attacks.
9. Other arrests include:
i. Bakura MODU:- He was arrested on July 20, 2015, at Kara, Isheri Berger, Ikeja LGA, Lagos State;
ii. Mustapha Alli JAMNERI:- He was arrested on July 24, 2015, at Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State;
iii. Abuyi SHERRIFF:- suspect was arrested on August 7, 2015, at Ebute-Metta, Lagos Mainland LGA, Lagos State;
iv. Babagana ALI and Babagana KOLOYE:- were arrested same day (August 7, 2015), at Eric Moore, Bode Thomas Street, Surulere LGA, Lagos State;
v. Abba Modu SAGMA: He was arrested on August 9, 2015, at Ijora Badiya, Apapa LGA, Lagos State;
vi. Grema ABUBAKAR and Tijani BAGUDU: were arrested on August 10, 2015, at Amukoko, Ijora Badiya, Apapa LGA, Lagos State;
vii. Baba Alhaji and Abass IBRAHIM:- were arrested earlier on the same day (August 10, 2015), at Alaba International Market, Alaba, Ojo LGA, Lagos State;
viii. IBRAHIM AUDU: Suspect was arrested on August 192015, at New Artisan Market, Enugu, Enugu State;
ix. Ibrahim HARUNA: The 30-year old suspect from Kanawa village, Sumaila LGA, Kano State was arrested on August 21, 2015, at Kwomi village, Kwami Local Government Area, Gombe State;
x. Mal Ali MOHAMMODU: The 33-year-old suspect was arrested on August 22, 2015, at Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Fagga LGA in Kano State;
xi. Adam Wakil Abdul JILBE: was arrested on August 23, 2015, at Obanikoro Area, Mushin LGA, Lagos State; and
xii. Mohammed USMAN: was arrested on August 25, 2015, at Atuashe Estate, Gbagada, Kosofe LGA, Lagos State.
10. Nigerians and indeed the general public have to note that the arrest of Usman SHUAIBU aka Money and the core members of his cell, stemmed the spate of bombings by the extremist sect. It would be recalled that MONEY and his group were arrested on their way to Bauchi State where they had planned to execute another heart-rending bomb attack and this was frustrated by the arrest.
9. Other arrests include:
i. Bakura MODU:- He was arrested on July 20, 2015, at Kara, Isheri Berger, Ikeja LGA, Lagos State;
ii. Mustapha Alli JAMNERI:- He was arrested on July 24, 2015, at Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State;
iii. Abuyi SHERRIFF:- suspect was arrested on August 7, 2015, at Ebute-Metta, Lagos Mainland LGA, Lagos State;
iv. Babagana ALI and Babagana KOLOYE:- were arrested same day (August 7, 2015), at Eric Moore, Bode Thomas Street, Surulere LGA, Lagos State;
v. Abba Modu SAGMA: He was arrested on August 9, 2015, at Ijora Badiya, Apapa LGA, Lagos State;
vi. Grema ABUBAKAR and Tijani BAGUDU: were arrested on August 10, 2015, at Amukoko, Ijora Badiya, Apapa LGA, Lagos State;
vii. Baba Alhaji and Abass IBRAHIM:- were arrested earlier on the same day (August 10, 2015), at Alaba International Market, Alaba, Ojo LGA, Lagos State;
viii. IBRAHIM AUDU: Suspect was arrested on August 192015, at New Artisan Market, Enugu, Enugu State;
ix. Ibrahim HARUNA: The 30-year old suspect from Kanawa village, Sumaila LGA, Kano State was arrested on August 21, 2015, at Kwomi village, Kwami Local Government Area, Gombe State;
x. Mal Ali MOHAMMODU: The 33-year-old suspect was arrested on August 22, 2015, at Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Fagga LGA in Kano State;
xi. Adam Wakil Abdul JILBE: was arrested on August 23, 2015, at Obanikoro Area, Mushin LGA, Lagos State; and
xii. Mohammed USMAN: was arrested on August 25, 2015, at Atuashe Estate, Gbagada, Kosofe LGA, Lagos State.
10. Nigerians and indeed the general public have to note that the arrest of Usman SHUAIBU aka Money and the core members of his cell, stemmed the spate of bombings by the extremist sect. It would be recalled that MONEY and his group were arrested on their way to Bauchi State where they had planned to execute another heart-rending bomb attack and this was frustrated by the arrest.
Furthermore, the sudden influx of Boko Haram
members into Lagos State points to the determination of the sect to extend its
nefarious terrorist activities to the State and in fact, other parts of the
country.
The arrest of these confessed terrorist elements
has however helped in no small measure to avert devastating attacks in the
area. However, the Service is making efforts to conclude its investigations and
commence prosecution of the suspects.
11. Drawing from the above, the DSS reiterates its avowed determination to work with other stakeholders in the fight against terror and other forms of criminality in our country. Citizens and residents are therefore called upon to rise to the occasion by volunteering useful information to the Service and relevant security agencies.
Tony Opuiyo
11. Drawing from the above, the DSS reiterates its avowed determination to work with other stakeholders in the fight against terror and other forms of criminality in our country. Citizens and residents are therefore called upon to rise to the occasion by volunteering useful information to the Service and relevant security agencies.
Tony Opuiyo
Department of State Services
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