A suspected senior member of the Boko Harram sect wanted by the Military has been arrested in a Lagos Church. Also arrested were five suspects picked in different parts of the state.

The suspects were arrested by a local vigilance group, civilian Joint Task Force (JTF). Daily Sun gathered that the suspects’ identities allegedly marched those on the list of 100 most wanted terrorists released by the military recently.

Head of the vigilance group, the Mai- Kanuribe of Lagos and the Seriki Hausawa of Ijora, Alhaji

Mustapha Mohammed, at a press conference yesterday said five of the suspects were arrested last Friday.

He said the sixth and most wanted suspect Adam, was arrested recently in a church in FESTAC town, where he was hiding.

According to him, the suspect was hiding inside an abandoned 40 ft container in the church’s premises.

He said the other five suspects are Ibrahim Ali, Abubakar Ahmed, Goigoi Kamsalem, Ibrahim Mohammed and Banagana Blam Ali.

He said while Ahmed, Kamsalem and Mohammed hail from Baga Local Government Area of Bornu State, Ali and Blam hails from Bama and Kanduga Local Governments respectively. He noted that Ali and Blam were arrested in their hideouts at Isheri area of Berger toll gate.

Ahmed, Kamsalem and Mohammed were arrested in Victoria Island area of the metropolis. He said the suspects were being returned to Bornu where they are wanted by the military. “Adam is one of the most wanted Boko Haram member on the wanted list of the military. We got intelligence report that Adam was hiding inside an abandoned 40ft container in a church premises. It was the security man attached to the church that hid him inside the container.

“When we arrived the church premises, the security man attached to the church was not around. The container was locked from the outside with a padlock. “The Pastor of the church was embarrassed to see us, but by the time we explained our mission to him, he in company with others gave us the go ahead. When we opened the container, Adam was found. As soon as the pastor sighted the suspect, he started singing praises,” he said. He said the group is determined to protect Lagos from the carnage of the Boko Haram sect. Mohammed, who hails from Borno State, pointed out that  Lagos is home to many nationalities, adding that he has invested and contributed to the development of the state since 1970 when he arrived the state. He disclosed that his group, which members are in the 27 local governments of the state, had commenced operation in the state since 2011.

He said his group has resolved that the sect would not be allowed to cause havoc in the state. He revealed that several suspects arrested in the past by his group were either handed over to the Department of State Security Service (DSS), or the police.

He disclosed that some of the suspects who are on the wanted list were transferred to Maiduguri for further investigation and prosecution.

He said he is personally financing the activities of the group, and appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for logistic support. (Daily Sun)