A suspected Boko Haram bomb expert who was arrested in Ibadan after
fleeing from the Sambisa Forest says many of their members have now
flooded Lagos.
A suspected Boko Haram bomb-maker who was arrested by security operatives in Ibadan, Oyo State, has shocked his captors that his group has so many of their members scattered all over Lagos State.
Tribune Newspaper reports that the suspect who was identified as Alkali,
allegedly fled the terrorist’s stronghold in the Sambisa Forest in
Borno State following their dislodgement by Nigerian soldiers and was
captured in Ibadan.
The terrorist was reportedly
arrested on Sunday, January 1, 2017, in the Alalubosa GRA of the
metropolis following a tip-off from residents.
A
police source who spoke to Tribune, said the suspect who is currently in
detention at the state CID, has confessed to being a key member of the
sect, adding that he was in charge of the dangerous weapons at the
disposal of the group, including grenades and dynamites.
“The man was arrested on Sunday night by security agents from the Iyaganku Division of the Oyo State Police Command.
This followed a tip-off by the people of the Alalubosa GRA who were curious about his sudden appearance in the neighbourhood.
The man, who said his name is Alkali, claimed that he ran from Sambisa Forest after the place was captured by the military.
He was found roaming about in the Alalubosa GRA by the people who lodged a report with the law enforcement agency.
During
investigations at the Iyaganku Division, he confessed that he fled from
Sambisa Forest in Borno State and got to Mobil, Ring Road, Ibadan on
foot.
He was immediately accosted by some
Hausa people who are plying their trade there. They immediately called
the attention of their leader who subjected him to a round of
interrogation.
He, however, fled from
them under questioning, only to be seen at the Alalubosa GRA area by
some residents who were curious about his appearance and way of
dressing.
The residents of Alalubosa GRA
immediately notified the Iyaganku Division of the state police command
who sent a team of security personnel to effect his arrest and he was
eventually taken to the police station.
Under
interrogation at the police station, he made some confessional
statement, claiming that he is a Boko Haram member from Borno State and
that he fled from the Sambisa Forest, following the invasion and capture
of the place by the Nigerian Army.
He is
presently held in the inner custody of the cell at the state CID as he
said he was not the only person that escaped from Sambisa Forest.
The suspect said he came to Ibadan with some other members of the Boko Haram sect, adding that some are already in Lagos,” the police source said.
The
Oyo State Police Command has, therefore, urged Lagosians to be very
vigilant as the suspect said his members are still taking instructions
from their leaders and could cause havoc in the city.