As many as 42 suspected Boko Haram members were arrested in Lagos and Ogun States, about 1500km away from the epicenter of their operations, in raids carried out by the Nigerian Army between July 12 and 23.
This was disclosed by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Major General Obi Umahi, when he paraded the suspects before journalists in Lagos on Monday.
Gen. Umahi said their arrest was based on intelligence report from army operation commanders, which was confirmed by the suspects’ admission that they were members of the sect, while some confessed to have taken part in deadly Boko Haram operations in some parts of the country.
The GOC said some of them were among those responsible for the killing of soldiers and civilians in Maiduguri, Borno State and had run far away.
According to him, the suspects were arrested at Ibafo Trailer Park, Ileke New Trailer Garage, Ogun, Aviation Quarters, Mafoluku-Oshodi, Mile 12 Motor Park, Ketu, Orile Trailer Park, Lekki New Extension, and Bar Beach, Lagos.
“We are still trying to track their weapons,” he said
The GOC said the suspects migrated to the south western part of the country following the recent clamp down on their activities in the north by the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“Army officers from 81 Division carried out coordinated raids in some major criminal hideouts in Lagos and Ogun States which are under our area of responsibility.
“This is in response to intelligence reports on the influx of Boko Haram terrorist elements into Lagos and Ogun states.
“The command organised and conducted raids, in junction with intelligence operatives, in various parts of these states.
One of the suspects, who identified himself as Hassan Ibrahim, told journalists he and two others were indeed responsible for the killing of one soldier in Maiduguri.
The suspect further gave the names of the two other accomplices as Ibrahim Ismail and “Alhaji Black”, adding that, some of them were now operating commercial motorcycle in Lagos.
“It was Alhaji Black who fired the shot that killed the soldier and one Boka in Maiduguri,” the suspect said.
The Boko Haram sect has limited its terrorist activities to the northern part of Nigeria where it is demanding an Islamisation of northern states.
The Federal Government in May declared a State of Emergency in three north eastern states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe to check the activities of the sect.