The Department of State Services has
arrested 20 suspected Boko Haram commanders in Lagos, Kano, Enugu,
Plateau and Gombe states.
The suspects, who were arrested between
July 8 and August 25, 2015, include the masterminds of the suicide
attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria, and Jos.
The DSS in a statement by an official,
Tony Opuiyo, on Sunday in Abuja, said those arrested were notable
commanders and frontline members of the notorious group from different
parts of the country.
The statement noted that the group’s new
pattern of movement and spread was caused by the pressure being put on
it by security forces in its core areas of strength in the North-East.
The service listed those arrested in
Lagos to include Bakura Modu who was apprehended on July, 20 at Kara,
Ogun State; Mustapha Jamberi, who was picked up on July 24 at Gowon
Estate.
Others are Abuyi Sheriff, who was nabbed
at Ebute-Meta; Babagana Ali and Babagana Koloye, who were arrested on
August, 7 at Eric Moore, Surulere.
The service explained that it picked up
Abba Sagma at Ijora Badia on August 9; Grema Abubakar and Tijani Bagudu
were apprehended at Amukoko, Ijora Badia the next day, while Baba Alhaji
and Abass Ibrahim were arrested earlier on the same day at the Alaba
International Market, Ojo.
Some arrested B’Haram suspects in Lagos. Photo: TVC
The DSS stated that a Boko Haram
commander, Usman Shuaibu, aka Money, revealed that he coordinated the
suicide attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria and Jos, which claimed several
lives, with N500,000 that was provided by his Amir, one Isa
Ali, who had a direct access to the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau, from
whom he collected money to fund operations undertaken by their Markaz.
The agency said, “Shuaibu also revealed
that he had participated in several Boko Haram attacks, including the
attacks at Gwoza Divisional Police Station in 2014.
“He admitted to being the leader of the
team of nine 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.
“Nigerians and indeed the general public have to note that the arrest of Shuaibu, aka Money,
and the core members of his cell, stemmed the spate of bombings by the
extremist sect. It will be recalled that Money and his group were
arrested on their way to Bauchi State where they had planned to execute
another bomb attack, and this was frustrated by the arrest.
“The sudden influx of Boko Haram members
into Lagos State points is due to the determination of the sect to
extend its nefarious terrorist activities to the state and in fact, to
other parts of the country.
“The arrest of these confessed
terrorists 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.”
The
DSS said a Boko Haram Improvised Explosive Device expert, Ahmed
Mohammed, aka Abubakar), admitted to making the IEDs used in the various
suicide bombings in the country.
“Mohammed 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,” the service said.
The secret service further stated that
Adamu Abdulahi, aka Babpa, confessed that Shuaibu motivated him to work
closely with IED expert, Mohammed, in the preparation of the IEDs used
in the attacks under reference.
The service said that another suspect,
Ibrahim Issa, confessed that he was the one who carried out
reconnaissance on the targets in Jos ahead of the attacks, while Muttaqa
Yusuf (aka Mohammed Sani/Mudtaka), 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 Shuaibu in planning and executing the said attacks.
Other suspects include Ibrahim Audu, who
was arrested on August 19 at New Artisan Market, Enugu; Ibrahim Haruna,
arrested on August, 21 at Kwomi village, Kwami Local Government Area,
Gombe State; Ali Mohammodu, nabbed on August 22 at Ibrahim Taiwo Road,
Fagga LGA in Kano State; and Adam Jilbe, who was apprehended on August
23 at Obanikoro, Lagos State.
The agency restated its determination to
work with other stakeholders in the fight against terror and other
forms of criminality in the country and called on citizens to volunteer
useful information to the service and other security agencies.
Meanwhile, the DSS has stepped up covert
operations to dismantle Boko Haram cells across the country,
particularly in the South-West, South-East and South-South where
suspected terrorists are hiding.
It was learnt that the arrest of notable
Boko Haram commanders had provided credible leads and intelligence that
could assist the service to track down insurgents and their supporters,
including ‘sleeper cells.’
A source said, “The recent arrest of
terror suspects has provided a haul of information and intelligence that
could assist the service to dismantle various terrorist cells. If the
security forces can sustain the current momentum, we will destroy Boko
Haram; it is a matter of time.”
Residents can arrest suspected suicide bomber – Lagos CP
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police,
Fatai Owoseni, says residents of the state are allowed to arrest anyone
suspected to be a suicide bomber, and hand him over to the police.
The CP added that the police had also
deployed its surveillance teams to monitor motor parks and other public
places in a bid to ensure that there was no incidence of terrorist
attack.
Owoseni, who said this on Sunday in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Metro, added that suicide bombers would be recognised first by their unusual movements and inquisitive behaviour.
He said, “The practical step to take
when residents suspect a suicide bomber is to alert the security
agencies. The police are near to everyone. The residents can also make
an arrest before the police arrive. It is allowed.
“One of the signs to look out for is the
behaviour. A suicide bomber behaves unusually. He also moves in a
suspicious manner. Such people are too inquisitive about the areas where
they find themselves. Also, they hardly make friends; they are lone
rangers.
“Any car that is parked in an unusual
manner should be reported. One of such signs is that one side of the
glass is wound down, and other sides rolled up.
“We expect that if residents see
vehicles in their areas unattended to, they would raise the alarm
immediately. If anyone sits in a parked car without winding down the
glass, people should accost him and ask him questions.”
Owoseni said the police in the state had
met with the Hausa communities, transport park unions and boat
operators to sensitise them on what the police expected from them.
He said, “We have deployed operatives in
all the motor parks. We also held meetings with unions like Road
Transport Employees Association of Nigeria, and the National Union of
Road Transport Workers; we are collaborating with them.
“The police met the Arewa communities in
the Agege and FESTAC areas, where I told the Imam and the leaders of
the Hausa groups that any suspicious face should be immediately reported
to the police.”
How to spot a terrorist- Experts
Two security experts, Richard Amuwa and
Dr. Ona Ekhomu, have urged vigilance and a more friendly relationship
between security agents and residents to tackle threats of Boko Haram,
especially in Lagos.
They said vigilance was the only way to
recognise terrorists, adding that a friendly relationship would
encourage the people to be free to report suspicious objects or persons
in their neighbourhood.
Ekhomu, who is the President of the
Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria,
advised Lagosians to imbibe the culture of TAPIs ─ Terrorists Attacks
Pre-incident Indicators ─ to avoid unnecessary deaths and tragedy.
He said, “Boko Haram members have been
with us for a while; so one thing we can do is to be vigilant against
the influx of strangers into neighbourhoods. Landlords associations
should register okada (motorcycle) riders and keke NAPEP (tricycle) drivers. Give them vests so that any stranger would be picked up.
“Also, ask questions if anyone moves
suspiciously in your area. Look out for one another. Everybody must be
their brothers’ keepers.”
Ekhomu said the ammunition of war of Boko Haram members was usually the IEDs.
“So, if you see anyone collecting cans;
or anyone with bags of fertiliser; or anyone with container of diesel
when they don’t have a generator, be suspicious. These are ingredients
for IEDs. Boko Haram don’t have easy access to high explosives,” the
security expert added.
He also urged Lagosians not to be
confrontational if someone looked suspicious. He added that the suspect
might be armed and could kill to save himself.
Ekhomu said, “Contact the authority
immediately. You can also contact the media to ensure accountability by
the security agencies.”
Also, Amuwa said the police should be ready to work with the people without creating fear in them.
He said, “The people should not hesitate to raise the alarm if they see any strange face in their environment.
“People should think less about their problems, and be more conscious of happenings within their environment.”
Amuwa, who is the Managing Director of the Mega Guards Services Limited, also advised the government to ban the wearing of hijab for the time being, saying the veil worn by muslim women, was being used by terrorists to shield explosives.
He said, “The problem is that how do you detect a Boko Haram member? If you are wearing shirts and the terrorist is wearing hijab, how do you figure him or her out? That is why we have asked the government to stop the wearing of hijab for now.”
In a related development sources told
our correspondent that the security agencies had been paying attention
to some area in Lagos to prevent attacks.
The areas include FESTAC, Apapa, Agege,
Yaba, Ojuelegba, Obalende, Ajegunle, Alimosho, Badagry, Lagos Island,
Idi araba, Bariga, Bajulaiye, Fola Agoro, Onipanu, Palmgroove, Aguda,
Agbado, Ejigbo and Ikorodu, among others.
Punch
Punch
No comments:
Post a Comment