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:
In line with the Department of State
Services’, DSS, re-strategised 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.
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.
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.
