In line with the Department of State Service's (DSS) renewed counter-terrorism measures to combat the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, the DSS has arrested 20 suspected leaders of the sect across the country.
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According to ThisDay, the operatives of the Department of State Service's (DSS), have clamped down on 20 suspected Boko Haram members as the war against the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria intensifies.
Their names have been given as Usman Shuaibu (a.k.a. Money) Ahmed Mohammed (a.k.a. Abubakar), Adamu Abubakar, (a.k.a. Baba), Ibrahim Musa, Mustapha Yusuf (a.k.a. Mohammed Sanni), Bakura Modu, Mustapha Ali Jamner, Abuji Sheriff, Babagana Ali, Babagana Soloy, Abba Modu Sagma, Grema Abubakar and Tijani Bagudu while the others are Baba Alhaji, Abbas Ibrahim, Ibrahim Audu, Ibrahim Haruna, Mallam Ali Mohammodu, Adam Waki Abdul Jilbe and Mohammed Usman.
This was contained in an official statement signed on behalf of the DSS by its spokesman, Tony Opuiyo. The arrested members have been described as key commanders and influential members of the sect. According to the statement, the terrorists are currently migrating from the secret places due to the pressure being put on them by the security forces in Nigeria.
Tony Opuiyo said a number of them have been arrested in Lagos, Kano, Plateau, Enugu and Gombe States between 8th July and 25th August, 2015, adding that of particular note was the arrest on 8th July, 2015 in Gombe State of those responsible for the coordination and execution of the suicide attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria, and Jos.
According to DSS, “Shuaibu revealed that he coordinated the attacks under reference with the sum of five hundred thousand naira (N500,000.00), 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.
“Shuaibu admitted being the leader of the team of nine sect members who were 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 (a.k.a. Abubakar), an IED (improvised explosive device) expert, confessed to the preparation of the IEDs used for the mentioned attacks.
“He also averred that he (Abubakar) 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 (a.k.a. Baba), confessed that Usman Shuaibu motivated him to work closely with Ahmed Mohammed (a.k.a. Abubakar) in the preparation of the IEDs used in the attacks under reference.
“Ibrahim Issa confessed that he was the one who carried out reconnaissance on the targets in Jos ahead of the attacks.
“Muttaqa Yusuf (a.k.a. Mohammed Sani/Mudtaka) disclosed that one Aliyu, believed to be Aliyu Gombe, in Sambisa Forest, was the one who ordered the serial attacks which the syndicate carried out.
“He further confessed that he assisted Usman Shuaibu in planning and executing the said attacks.”
The DSS said other arrests made included Bakura Modu, who was arrested on 20th July, 2015 at Kara, Isheri Berger, Ikeja Local Government Area, Lagos State; Mustapha Alli Jameneri arrested on 24th July, 2015 at Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos State; Abuyi Sherriff arrested on 7th August, 2015, at Ebute-Metta, Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, Lagos State; Babagana Ali and Babagana Koloye were arrested same day (7th August, 2015), at Eric Moore, Bode Thomas Street, Surulere Local Government Area, Lagos State; and Abba Modu Sagma nabbed on 9th August, 2015, at Ijora Badiya, Apapa Local Government Area, Lagos State.