Boko Haram Kingpins Nabbed In Abuja, Kano – ISWAP Commanders Are In Communities – Reports

Reports made available to newsmen late Monday claimed that some Boko Haram kingpins and terrorist commanders have been arrested in Abuja and Kano recently.

Sources who confirmed the development to Daily Trust yesterday claimed that some commanders of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) and foot soldiers have disguised in communities in and around Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, perfecting their plans to launch dreadful attacks about the same time.

Naija News understands that the update is coming hours after US Embassy in Nigeria raised alarm about planned attacks in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other parts of the country.

The sources who begged not to appear in the print, however, said that before Sunday’s advisory by US Embassy in the country, security forces had been on their toes to ensure no attack happen in Abuja and its environs.

The security sources maintained that a handy number of terrorists and their collaborators who have been mapping and strategising on how to launch multiple attacks to attract global attention had been arrested in the nation’s capital city and neighbouring communities at different raids.

The sources according to Daily Trust claimed that the advisory issued on Sunday was, however, to back the obvious truth that dreaded terrorists and collaborators have established several cells in and around FCT.

The report noted that most embassies in Nigeria were fully informed of the security threat and that US Embassy’s alarm might just be one of such advisories as others must have told their citizens quietly to be on the watch.

“The advisory is true but we have been working on the issue for months, we have been arresting suspects and they are revealing a lot to us,” one of the sources told the news platform.

He added: “We have gone far in securing not only the FCT but Nigeria at large…The terrorists have no hiding place anymore because we are tracking and picking them.

“We know all their antics. Many of them are working as mechanics, tailors, carpenters, labourers and even experts in some fields…We know what is happening.”

According to the insiders, the terrorists have been receiving intelligence from their superiors at strategic locations living within and outside Nigeria on how to perfect the massive onslaught on the symbol of authority.

This according to the sources could be to prove that they were still strong and could attack anywhere.

It was learnt that their influx into Abuja was a sequel to massive aerial reconnaissance and ground operations by Nigerian troops in the far northern Borno bordering Chad, Niger and Cameroon and the Alagarno and Sambosa forests in North East, as well as bombardments in forested areas in parts of Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara states all in North West that led to the destruction of many cells and bonkers of the terrorists.

Security Beef-Up In Abuja

Naija News learnt that following the alarm raised by the UK and US Embassies on Sunday, security operatives consisting of soldiers of the Nigerian Air Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Immigration Services have beefed up security in the nation’s capital.

It was observed yesterday that fighter and surveillance jets were patrolling the air in a bid to map out potential hideouts of terrorists that may be planning to launch an attack in the central city.

A military officer who pleaded to be anonymous told newsmen yesterday that security operatives were already on red alert following an order from the above.

“Following orders from the above, we, in collaboration with DIA, NIA, DSS and other security forces, have stepped up our games. We will tackle those criminals,” the senior military officer reportedly told Daily Trust.

Also, there were the heavy deployment of security personnel at soft targets like entry points to the city centre as well as churches, mosques, and recreational and business centres in Abuja.

This is as soldiers were also mounted at strategic locations near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

Naija News understands that the security operatives mounted checkpoints before the entrance of the airport, which restricted the free flow of vehicles. Operatives of the police force were seen in the Asokoro area of Abuja, close to the ECOWAS building.

The developments are said to have raised fear among residents in the FCT, including diplomats.

This article was originally published on Naija News