By Sadiq Umar – The Department of State Security Service (DSS) has foiled a plot by Boko Haram to bomb the United States of America and United Kingdom embassies in Nigeria.
The plot, according to DSS, was to be carried out by five Boko Haram suspects with links to the Islamic State terror group.
In a statement by Tony Opuiyo, the agency said the suspected terrorists were arrested in a nationwide operation between March 25 and 26, 2017.
According to the statement, “Between 25th and 26th March, 2017, the Service busted a ring of ISIS linked Boko Haram members based in Benue State and the FCT.
“The group had perfected plans to attack the UK and American Embassies and other western interests in Abuja. During the operation to thwart this plan, five (5) key suspects, namely: Isa JIBRIL, Jibril JIBRIL, Abu Omale JIBRIL, Halidu SULE and Amhodu SALIFU, were arrested,” the statement said.
Similarly, one Adamu Datti, (20) was arrested in Yobe state for his “involvement in executing the sinister activities” of Boko Haram.
On April 4, two persons suspected to be affiliated to the Ansaru terror group were also arrested in Igarra, Akoko-Edo, Edo State.
The DSS said the suspects confirmed their membership of the terror group and were confirmed as associates of Abu Uwais, the alleged kingpin of Ansaru who had allegedly terrorised Kogi and Benue States.
In the same vein, the agency also announced the successes it recorded in the war against kidnappers in the south-south, south-east and north-central.
According to the statement, it arrested one Daniel Dibiamaka on March 24 in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, for allegedly kidnapping a citizen identified as Emmanuel Ukah.
Another suspect, Godsgift Isioma, was also arrested for allegedly plotting to kidnap a doctor who was identified as G.N. Douglas.
In Benue State, operatives arrested Daniel Lorve, named as a member of kidnapping syndicate, Terwase Akwaaza, a.k.a.: Gana. He was arrested in Bangaji, Gboko, on March 23, 2017, the statement added.
Mr. Lorve’s arrested later resulted in a joint military, police and SSS raid of a farm said to have been used as an armoury by Akwaaza.
“High calibre arms and ammunition were recovered from the scene notably; one (1) General Purpose Machine Gun, three (3) AK-47 rifles and one (1) SMG rifle, with large quantities of ammunition,” the statement said.
“In Kogi State, on March 29, 2017 the operatives arrested Abdulmojid Momoh and Ahmed Tijani Dodo in Adavi Local Government Area over alleged involvement in kidnap activities.
In a similar vein, the duo of Salau Yakubu Ontinwa (aka General) and Abdulmajeed Musa were arrested on March 30, 2017 in the same local government area for alleged kidnap crimes.
The DSS said preliminary investigation showed that the three are key members of the dreaded gang terrorizing innocent citizens and other travelers across the state.
Prior to these operations in Kogi State, a gun runner simply identified as Kareem was arrested on March 27, 2017 for allegedly supplying weapons to criminals, especially Abu Uwais, the Ansaru kingpin and notorious kidnapper, the statement said.
In Ebonyi State, one Chukwujioke Igbru in Ikwo was also arrested in a joint operation with the military on April 7, 2017.
The suspect was alleged to be one of the masterminds of the clashes between his Ojenakpa community and neighbouring Isobo community in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Mr. Igbru was alleged to be in “possession of a G3 rifle” at the time of his arrest.
Also in Abia State, Freeborn Chisom Innocent from Ikeduru, Imo State, was arrested at Nzaocha Street, Aba for allegedly engaging in subversive activities against public servants.
Mr. Innocent was identified as an ICT expert and social media user who allegedly used blogs to launch negative campaigns against the persons and offices of top government officials.
“He also used his platform to incite one ethnic group to violently attack another, thus creating tension and social disharmony,” the SSS said without stating Mr. Innocent’s platform.
The SSS also uncovered a network involved in the issuance of certificates or letters of indigeneship to persons from neighbouring African countries.
“The Boko Haram terrorist group has become part of this network and uses it to buoy its membership in Nigeria,” it said.
The SSS said on April 10 in Damaturu, Yobe State, it arrested a person simply identified as Jalo, a Guinean descent who lived in Jos and allegedly has ties to Boko Haram.
The service said it discovered that these non-Nigerians use their new indigene status to seek privileges including admissions into the country’s tertiary institutions.
In order to check this ugly development, state and local authorities are advised to be more circumspect in the issuance of these certificates and letters of indigeneship, it said.
The statement urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and raise alarm whenever they witness suspicious activities.
