Suspected ISWAP Members Nabbed in Lagos

Two suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have been reportedly arrested in Lagos State.

The suspects, identified as Modu Gana and Ibrahim Dugge, were apprehended on Sunday, December 21, by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS).

A security source with direct knowledge of the operation told Premium Times, an online news platform, that the suspects were arrested in the Apapa area of Lagos.

“They were arrested around 8:45am on Sunday,” the source said, adding that both men are currently in detention for interrogation.

According to findings, the arrests followed intelligence reports that the suspects had fled the insurgency-hit North-East and relocated to Lagos.

The specific mission of the suspects in the state was not immediately clear as of press time.

When Premium Times contacted an official of the DSS media unit said the arrests had not been brought to the agency’s attention.

The media firm reports that since the redeployment of its former spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, the DSS has adopted a covert media policy, explaining that it is necessary to enable the agency to effectively carry out its intelligence duties.

There were no indications, as of press time, that the suspects were planning an attack in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital.

However, security experts have warned that ISWAP has been making efforts to expand its operations beyond the North-East.

The Boko Haram insurgency, which has lasted for over 15 years, has splintered into factions following internal divisions in 2012 and 2016.