Boko Haram Commander Arrested, Moved To Abuja

At last, Nigeria’s security agencies are getting on top of the security challenges in the Northern part of the country. High powered investigations are being conducted into the operations of the sect and some of its members in custody have been thoroughly grilled with impressive results. Following this trend, the operational commander of the sect, Ali Saleh, arrested along with some of his boys recently after an attack in Maiduguri, is now with the authorities in Abuja were deliberations are in top gear as to how exactly to proceed.

Here’s how The NATION reports the incident: 

Boko Haram key suspect, Ali Saleh, has been moved to Abuja for interrogation, it was learnt yesterday. Saleh was relocated from Maiduguri to Abuja for grilling, following revelations from some Boko Haram suspects in detention. A source, who spoke in confidence, said...

“We decided to relocate Saleh to Abuja from the custody of the Joint Task Force in Maiduguri as part of a comprehensive probe into the activities of the sect. We are already quizzing the operational commander of 

the sect who has made useful statements.”

According to the source, “there is no doubt that some retired military men, who know how to use dynamites, have joined the sect to assist it to manage some of its sophisticated explosives and weapons. The security agencies are making substantial progress. I think if we are able to track down one or two fleeing leaders of the sect, we can check Boko Haram menace,” the source, who pleaded not to be named because he is not allowed to speak to the media, said.

Responding to a question, the source added: “Saleh may be a notorious gun runner, but preliminary findings have confirmed that he has been central to the activities of Boko Haram.” 

It was also gathered that seven of the 19 states in the North have been placed under intense surveillance, following the success of the operation against Boko Haram in Borno State. The source said: “We have a challenge in Kano State, in particular, where intelligence reports have confirmed the presence of some Boko Haram leaders, including the leader of a breakaway faction of the sect, Abu Mohammed.”