The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested five Islamic State (ISIS)-affiliated Boko Haram members, who were planning to attack the British High Commission, US Embassy and other buildings occupied by representatives of western countries in Abuja.
The arrests were announced in a press statement signed by Mr. Tony Opuiyo of the DSS.
The statement had it that the suspected terrorists were arrested in Benue State and the Federal Capital Territory on 25 and 26 March.
The names of the suspects were given as Isa Jibril, Jibril Jibril, Abu Omale Jibril, Halidu Sule and Amhodu Salifu.
The DSS also announced that it has uncovered a racketeering network issuing certificates/letters of indigeneship to foreign nationals.
The Boko Haram terrorist group, said the DSS, uses the network get new members into Nigeria.
“A particular case was the arrest on 10th April at Damaturu, Yobe State, of Jalo, a Jos-based Guinean and Boko Haram suspect.
It is also discovered that these non-Nigerians use their new indigene status to seek privileges, including admissions into the country’s tertiary institutions,” said the DSS.
It advised state and local government to be more circumspect in the issuance of these documents by liaising with the appropriate government organs, especially the Nigeria Immigration Service.
The DSS explained that its continued detention of Mr. Gabriel Suswam, former governor of Benue State, is not at variance with the law, as he has refused to cooperate with it in relation to the investigation into large cache of arms discovered at buildings owned by him.
The statement equally disclosed that on 22 March at Fika, Yobe State, one Adamu Datti, a 20-year old Boko Haram member was nabbed and confessed his involvement in the activities of the group.
The DSS said it similarly arrested, in April, two Ansaru kingpins, Ahmed Momoh and Al-amin Mohammed Jamin at Igarra, Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State. Momoh and Jamin are said to be associates of Abu Uwais, a premium Ansaru terrorist that had been running wild in Kogi and Edo states.
The terrorists, stated the DSS, are already being investigated. The service, disclosed the statement, also ramped up its anti-kidnapping efforts, which saw it arrest Daniel Dibiamaka on 24 March in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Dibiamaka was arrested for complicity in the 20 January kidnap of one Emmanuel Orji Ukah. The same day, the service nabbed, Godsgift Isioma, who was planning to abduct one Dr. G.N Douglas.
The anti-kidnapping efforts also yielded fruits in in Benue State where, on 23 March at Bangaji, Gboko, one Daniel Lorve was arrested. Lorve, according to the DSS, is a member of the Terwase Akwaaza (aka Gana) and led notorious kidnapping and terrorist group.
“Further investigation in this regard prompted a joint military/Police/Service operation which resulted in the raid on a farm suspected to have housed the armory of Akwaaza, known for terrorizing Katsina-Ala, Logo and Ukum Local Government Areas of the state,” the DSS stated.
Recovered from the scene, the DSS added, were high-calibre arms and ammunition.
These included one General Purpose Machine Gun, three AK-47 rifles, and one SMG rifle and large quantities of ammunition.
The service also touched Kogi State, where it arrested Abdulmojid Momoh and Ahmed Tijani Dodo at Adavi Local Government Area on 29 March.
The next day, it picked up Salau Yakubu Ontinwa (aka General) and Abdulmajeed Musa for kidnapping.
“Preliminary investigation showed that the trios are key members of the dreaded gang terrorizing innocent citizens and other travelers across the state.
Prior to this operation in the state, a gun runner only identified as Kareem was arrested on 27th March 2017 for supplying weapons to criminals, especially Abu Uwais, the Ansaru kingpin and notorious kidnapper,” added the DSS.
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