The suspected terrorist who relocated to the state from Katsina, President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state, was apprehended in the Ijaiye area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Services has arrested a high-profile Boko Haram member in Ogun State, South-West Nigeria, according to a report by Daily Trust.
The suspected terrorist who relocated to the state from Katsina, President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state, was apprehended in the Ijaiye area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
It was learnt that following the relocation of the high-profile terror suspect to Ogun, he took up a security job and had been gathering intelligence in readiness for terrorist attacks in the South-West region.
A security source told Daily Trust that the terror suspect moved to Abeokuta to establish a terrorist cell to carry out kidnappings and other forms of terror activities.
However, it was learnt that the DSS got information about the plan and stormed his hideout to arrest him. The terror suspect is currently in DSS custody, according to the report.
“It was not an easy ride. Intelligence and the grace of God were sufficient for the operatives. There are still many of them around, but we are on top of our game,” Daily Trust quoted the source as saying.
The spokesman for the DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, neither denied nor confirmed the arrest of the terror suspect as his response to a text message enquiry only read, “No comment.”
The spokesperson for the state police command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, denied any knowledge of the reported arrest.
Last Wednesday, SaharaReporters reported that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) stated that Boko Haram and Islamic State for West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists had mobilised to attack President Buhari’s home state, Katsina.
Another intelligence report revealed plans by two bandit groups to attack Lagos, Federal Capital Territory, Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Kogi.
The NSCDC said from the intelligence gathered, terrorists had equipped themselves with dangerous weapons like Anti-aircraft guns and general-purpose machine guns, among others, in preparation for the attack on President Buhari’s home state.
The report dated July 25 also hinted at plans by bandit groups to attack Lagos, Federal Capital Territory, Kaduna, and Zamfara states, adding that the Commandant General had directed the state Commandants to put measures in place to avert the attacks.
It read, “We have received credible intelligence that Boko Haram and the ISWAP terrorist groups have mobilised fighters and high calibre weapons particularly Rocket-propelled Grenade launchers, Anti-Aircraft guns, and General-Purpose Machine Guns which they intend to deploy for the offensive in Katsina State.
“In another development, two separate bandit groups are plotting coordinated attacks on North-West, North Central and South West (Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi, FCT and Lagos respectively).”
“Consequently, the Commandant General has directed you to scale up deployment in all strategic places including Schools, Worship Centres, and Critical National Assets in your respective states, to checkmate any possible threats by these criminal elements. Please treat as urgent,” the report added.
Terrorists seem to be making gradual incursion into the South-West.
On Sunday, June 5, 2022, some terrorists attacked St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, killing 40 congregants and injuring several others.
ISWAP terrorists in May claimed responsibility for an explosion that rocked the ancient town Kabba in the Kogi West Senatorial District.
The night explosion was the second in the community in one month.
The first explosion which generated controversies as to whether it was a bomb or a gas cylinder, occurred on May 11 at a beer parlour around Lewu Junction in Kabba town. That explosion claimed three lives out of the 16 persons affected.
Kabba is the headquarters of the Kabba/Bunnu Local Government Area and the people speak a dialect of Yoruba called Owe.
The town is less than 10 minutes from Akunnu-Akoko and Ajowa-Akoko in Ondo State and less than 20 minutes from Emure in Ekiti State.