…arrests Boko Haram’s spiritual leader, others
The Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday said it had foiled attempts by suspected Boko Haram elements to launch attacks on targeted locations in Edo, Kaduna and Kogi states.
Also, the spiritual leader of Boko Haram cell in Kano, who masterminded the shooting of some students at Government Secondary School (GSS), Mamudo village near Potiskum, Yobe State, in 2013, has been arrested.
The Service further disclosed that it apprehended one Aikhoje Moses, who had threatened to attack the Consular-Generals of Switzerland and Denmark, and their respective Embassies in Nigeria.
The disclosures were made in a statement by Mr. Tony Opuiyo. According to the DSS, the successes followed ongoing tactical and counterterrorism operations, to degrade the capabilities of criminal elements across the country.
“On July 8, at Kinkinau area in Unguwar Mu’azu of Kaduna metropolis, the Ser-vice arrested one Mukhtar Tijani, a notorious Boko Haram fighter and three of his accomplices namely, Isiaku Salihu, Abdullahi Isah and Hindu Isah.
The four suspects were apprehended while perfecting arrangements for major coordinated attacks on selected targets and locations in Kaduna State. “On August 12, at Auchi in Edo State, three members of the Ansaru terrorist group hibernating in Kogi State were apprehended by the Service.
Usman Abdullahi, Abdulmumuni Sadiq and Ahmad Salihu were arrested while making arrangements to launch attacks on some selected targets in Edo and Kogi States, before escaping to join ISIS in Libya,” the secret service said.
On the arrest of the suspect, who had threatened attacks on the Embassies, the statement noted: “Following threat messages against some members of the Diplomatic Corps in Abuja and Lagos, this Service responded and subsequently apprehended one Aikhoje Moses, on August 19, at Azagha by-pass off the Benin–Asaba Expressway in Edo State.
“Before his arrest, Moses had threatened the diplomatic community in Nigeria, particularly the Consular-Generals of Switzerland and Denmark and their Embassies in Nigeria, warning them to leave the country.” In the same light, the Service disclosed the arrest on July 17, of one Mudasiru Jibrin at Sauna quarters, Yankaba area in Kano.
It said Jibrin was the spiritual leader to a newly uncovered Boko Haram cell in Kano. “Preliminary investigation so far conducted revealed that he was also the mastermind of the shooting of some students at the Government Secondary School (GSS), Mamudo village near Potiskum, Yobe State, in 2013,” it noted.
The statement further noted the arrest of suspected members of a kidnap gang in Benue State. Specifically, the Service said it apprehended the second-in-command to the leader of the kidnap gang, who it said negotiated the payment of N4 million ransom by two Indian nationals and staff of the Dangote Cement Company in Gboko. ”
Following the spate of gruesome killing and kidnap incidents in Benue State, on August 8, the Service arrested one Terfa Jirgba and two of his accomplices, namely Terzungee Kwaghaondo and Mathias Aende, at Badagry Street off Esther Aka road in Makurdi, Benue State.
Jirgba is an active ally and gang member of Terwase Agwaza aka Ghana, a notorious kidnapper who runs a kidnapping and criminal network in Benue State.”In a follow-up operation, one Terungwa Abur was trailed to Port Harcourt City in Rivers State. He was eventually picked up on August 16.
Abur is the second in command to Agwaza and a key member of the kidnapping gang of Terwase Agwaza, aka Ghana, which operates from Benue State. “He acts as a courier for the underworld gang and was the negotiator of the N4 million ransom paid to the gang for the release of two Indian national staff of Dangote Cement Company, Yander-Gboko, who were kidnapped on July 29, in Makurdi.
He also participated in the killing of one Ortin in Gboko township on August 1st.” The DSS extended its operations to Calabar, the Cross River State capital, as well as some parts of Akwa Ibom State, where it said some suspected criminals had “terrorized residents.” It said its operation paidoff with the arrest of seven suspects.
– New Telegraph
