When vigilantes cracked down on Boko Haram members in Lagos

That the dreaded Boko Haram group is fast choking up due to the concerted efforts of the military to exterminate it and engender a peaceful Nigeria is no longer news.

What is more of attention now are the efforts of local vigilantes in the last one year in most Hausa communities in Lagos and Ogun states that have led to the arrest of over 100 suspected Boko Haram terrorists in the surburbs.

Those arrested are said to have fled from the the northeastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa due to increased bombardment of their bases by the military.

Penultimate Friday, the vigilantes, headed by the Mai Kanuribe of Lagos and the Serikin Hausawa of Apapa land, Alhaji Mustapha Mohammed, witnessed the arrest of five suspected members of the Boko Haram group.

Those arrested included Ibrahim Ali, Abubakar Ahmed, Goigoi Kamsalem, Ibrahim Mohammed and Banagana Blam Ali.

The sixth suspect, identified as Adam, who had carried out several bombing operations in Maiduguri and its suburbs was allegedly arrested in a church in Festac town where he was hiding inside an abandoned 40ft container.

The identities of all six suspects are said to match those on the lists of 100 most wanted terrorists released by the military recently.

A member of the vigilante who spoke to Eko Trust in Lagos on condition of anonymity, said Adam had already admitted his involvement in the series of attacks and killings in the North -east and had also provided information to the security agencies about their plots.

The source alleged that Adam had admitted that he had sworn allegiance to Abubakar Shekau and similarly received instructions from leaders from within and abroad.

“One of the attacks he planned and had executed was the attack on Security Services (DSS) facility in Lokoja aimed at freeing their members detained in September 2015.

“Adam also admitted, prior to the attack on the DSS facility in Lokoja, that he was ordered to go in person or send a young recruit, to receive explosive belt or to purchase a rifle or machine gun to use in the operations,” the source added.

Alhaji Mustapha Mohammed, head of the vigilantes disclosed that while Abubakar Ahmed, Goigoi Kamsalem and Ibrahim Mohammed hailed from Baga Local Government Area of Borno, Ibrahim Ali hailed from Bama Local Government and Babagana Blam Ali from Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

It was also learnt that Ibrahim Ali and Babagana Blam Ali were both arrested by the vigilantes who raided their hideout at Isheri area of Berger toll gate.

Alhaji Mustapha said after repeated attempts, his group succeeded in uncovering some of the suspects’ hideouts and that after the arrest, those on the wanted list of the military were transported back to Borno State despite the intensity of the terrorist operations in the area.

He noted that the aim is to make them answer to charges leveled against them in the area.

According to him, Goigoi Kamsalem, Ibrahim Mohammed and Banagana Blam Ali had all confessed that they joined the terrorist group after incitement and threat from senior members urging them to join. Continued on next page