Terror Kingpin Detected Among 486 Arrested Suspects – DHQ

Terror Kingpin Detected Among 486 Arrested Suspects – DHQ

A terror kingpin was detected in the ongoing screening of the 486 arrested suspects, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reported.

The Director of Defence Information Major General Chris Olukolade announced this in a statement released on Tuesday, June 17. 

Olukolade did not disclosed the suspect's name but said he was in the list of wanted terrorists in Nigeria.

"Meanwhile, the identified terror kingpin has been taken into custody. Further development will be communicated to you in due course."

Other security agencies, including the para-military, have joined in the screening exercise, Olukolade said. 

He added that those identified as possible security risk or illegal immigrants would be separated from the others for further action.

It would be recalled that 486 people suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents were arrested on June 15 by the soldiers of the 144 battalion of the Nigerian Army in Asa, near Aba, Abia State. The suspects, however, insisted they were innocent job seekers from northern Nigeria.

Wanted Boko Haram leaders

The defunct Joint Task Force (JTF) on November 23, 2012 placed ransom on 19 leaders of Boko Haram sect. It is still not clear if the arrested suspect is on the list.

According to This Day, the list include five members of the Shurra Committee (the highest making body of the sect) and 14 Boko Haram commanders.

But one of the Shurra Committee members, Mohammed Zangina was allegedly killed in a shoot-out with the JTF in Maiduguri. With Zangina dead, those still wanted: Imam Abubakar Shekau (ransom N50million), Habibu Yusuf (N25million), Khalid Albarnawai (N25million), and Momodu Bama (N25 million).

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Khadijah Thabit avatar

Khadijah Thabit (Copyeditor) Khadijah Thabit is an editor with over 3 years of experience editing and managing contents such as articles, blogs, newsletters and social leads. She has a BA in English and Literary Studies from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Khadijah joined Legit.ng in September 2020 as a copyeditor and proofreader for the Human Interest, Current Affairs, Business, Sports and PR desks. As a grammar police, she develops her skills by reading novels and dictionaries. Email: khadeeejathabit@gmail.com