The Department of State Service (DSS) has alerted members of the public that the Boko Haram terrorist group has continued to establish and operate sleeper cells whose (sole) mandates are to conduct surveillance and carry out subsequent attacks in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This is coming as the Nigerian Army made a strategic advancement and gains in Sambisa forest, Borno State, where they discovered several Boko Haram tunnels.
The DSS in a statement signed on Saturday by Mr. Tony Opuiyo, said the disclosure has become necessary following the arrests of the sect’s members who migrated from various conflict theatres in the North East to the FCT in order to enable them capitalise on the excitement of the Yuletide season to launch attacks in the city.
“For instance, on October 29th, 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,” Opuiyo said.
In a related development, he said, on November 19, 2015, Mohammed Shiwar Abubakar and Musa Ta’ada were arrested at Shoprite Junction, Apo, Abuja.
More to follow