The Department of State Services (DSS), on Saturday, disclosed that
it had uncovered multiple sleeper cells being operated by the Boko Haram
terrorist group in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ,Abuja.
In a statement in Abuja by Tony Opouiyo, the service said that the sect continued “to establish and operate sleeper cells whose (sole) mandates are to conduct surveillance and carry out subsequent attacks in the FCT and its environments.”
The service disclosed that already, some arrests of the sect’s members who migrated from various conflict theaters in the North East to the FCT had been made.
According to the service,”on October 29, 2015, the duo of Muhammed Hassan Idris (a Nigerien) and Baba Abdul Maina were arrested at Panteka area of Apo, Abuja. This was followed by the arrest of Sanni Mohammed (aka Kakase) and Ahmed Umaru (aka Mallam; Mallam Hamdi Garne (Ahmed Daubi) in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
“Sanni, who hails from Potiskum, Yobe State, fled the area following his involvement in coordinated suicide attacks in Yobe, Plateau, Kano and Kaduna states.
“In a related development, on 19 November 2015, Mohammed Shiwar Abubakar and Musa Ta’ada were arrested at Shoprite Junction, Apo, Abuja. Abubakar hails from Borno State and operates as a taxi driver in Abuja. He is of an unknown address but claims that he sleeps in his Volkswagen Golf car at the Honda line, Apo mechanic village, Abuja. The Gwoza-born Ta’ada also operates under the cover of a suya seller at Apo Primary School along Kabusa Road, Abuja.
“Still, on 23 November, 2015, one Ahmed Hassan was arrested while
carrying out surveillance on a high-profile hotel in the city. He hails
from Katagum, Bauchi State. Suspect admitted using the cover of a beggar
to sustain surveillance on his targets. Bulama Ali had previously been
arrested in Karu, Nasarawa State, on 22 November, 2015.”
According to the statement,”similarly, on 1st December, 2015, Hassan Abubakar and Mohammed Gwale Mohammed were arrested at Madalla, in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State following intelligence that they were planning to commence attacks in the FCT after a successful surveillance of the city.
“Before his arrest, Abubakar was working with other sect members in different parts of the country notably Borno, Yobe, Taraba and Adamawa states. Abubakar was arrested in the house of Mohammed Gwale who claims to be a federal civil servant from Niger State. He (Gwale) has made useful statements which are helping with further investigation.”
It stated further that “so far, preliminary investigations reveal that the suspects and others still at large may have adopted their respective trades as plausible covers to infiltrate the city and its environs in their bid to conduct successful surveillance and map out soft targets for the sect’s attacks.
“The DSS operations are, therefore, aimed at preempting any attacks by the terrorist elements against the backdrop of the upcoming festive period and beyond.”
In a statement in Abuja by Tony Opouiyo, the service said that the sect continued “to establish and operate sleeper cells whose (sole) mandates are to conduct surveillance and carry out subsequent attacks in the FCT and its environments.”
The service disclosed that already, some arrests of the sect’s members who migrated from various conflict theaters in the North East to the FCT had been made.
According to the service,”on October 29, 2015, the duo of Muhammed Hassan Idris (a Nigerien) and Baba Abdul Maina were arrested at Panteka area of Apo, Abuja. This was followed by the arrest of Sanni Mohammed (aka Kakase) and Ahmed Umaru (aka Mallam; Mallam Hamdi Garne (Ahmed Daubi) in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
“Sanni, who hails from Potiskum, Yobe State, fled the area following his involvement in coordinated suicide attacks in Yobe, Plateau, Kano and Kaduna states.
“In a related development, on 19 November 2015, Mohammed Shiwar Abubakar and Musa Ta’ada were arrested at Shoprite Junction, Apo, Abuja. Abubakar hails from Borno State and operates as a taxi driver in Abuja. He is of an unknown address but claims that he sleeps in his Volkswagen Golf car at the Honda line, Apo mechanic village, Abuja. The Gwoza-born Ta’ada also operates under the cover of a suya seller at Apo Primary School along Kabusa Road, Abuja.
According to the statement,”similarly, on 1st December, 2015, Hassan Abubakar and Mohammed Gwale Mohammed were arrested at Madalla, in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State following intelligence that they were planning to commence attacks in the FCT after a successful surveillance of the city.
“Before his arrest, Abubakar was working with other sect members in different parts of the country notably Borno, Yobe, Taraba and Adamawa states. Abubakar was arrested in the house of Mohammed Gwale who claims to be a federal civil servant from Niger State. He (Gwale) has made useful statements which are helping with further investigation.”
It stated further that “so far, preliminary investigations reveal that the suspects and others still at large may have adopted their respective trades as plausible covers to infiltrate the city and its environs in their bid to conduct successful surveillance and map out soft targets for the sect’s attacks.
“The DSS operations are, therefore, aimed at preempting any attacks by the terrorist elements against the backdrop of the upcoming festive period and beyond.”
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