By Amos Dunia, Abuja
The war against insurgency has recorded a boost following the arrest by the Department of State Services of the commander of the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWA), terrorists group, Husseini Mai-Tangaran.
The DSS also succeeded in uncovering and foiling sinister plans by ISWA terrorists to cause mayhem and destruction that would have disrupted the Eid-Kabir Sallah festivities of September 1 to 4, 2017.
The DSS said the terrorists planned to conduct gun attacks and suicide bombing on selected targets in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Niger, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno States.
The Service said Husseini Mai-Tangaran, a well-known senior ISWA commander who has been on the Service and Nigeria Army radar since 2012 was arrested on August 31, 2017, adding that he spearheaded the armed attacks on the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone I, on January 20, 2012, as well as other public places in Kano.
The DSS also said that Mai-Tangaran was also responsible for the deadly explosive attacks against worshippers at the Kano Central Mosque as well as an attack on a military formation in Yobe State in 2015, which claimed hundreds of lives.
It explained that under the banner of ISWA which he belongs, Mai-Tangaran, who is an IED expert had been prepping and priming others for the perpetration of suicide bombing attacks carried out by the group in the past within the North-East region.
A statement by the spokesman of the DSS, Tony Opuiyo said Mai-Tangaran’s arrest led to the arrest of one Abdulkadir Umar Mohammed on September 2, 2017, at Kantin Kwari Market in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State.
It described Mohammed as a fighter of the sect, who left the conclave of the group in the Sambisa forest, to join ranks with one Ismaila towards carrying out the attacks being planned by the group.
Opuiyo further said; “Another accomplice in the plot, one Muhammad ALI was arrested on 3rd September 2017, at Sheka area in Kumbotso LGA of the State. Prior to his arrest, ALI was the financial courier of the group in Kano. He was one of the conduits through which funds and other material logistics were channeled to the group from foreign extremist elements/sponsors.
“Like Abdulkadir Umar MOHAMMED, ALI was involved in the plot to perpetrate the planned attacks in Kano and other States in the North during the just concluded Eid-Kabir celebration.”
The DSS also said that in a related tactical operation on September 3, 2017, its personnel apprehended the duo of Yahaya Mohammed ABATCHA and Yusuf MOHAMMED, along Top Medical Road, close to Mobile Quarters in Tunga area of Minna, Niger State.
The Service said both Abatcha and Mohammed are fighters of the Habib Al-Barnawi-led Islamic State of West Africa (ISWA), adding that the duo are the leading elements of a cell of the terrorists group and have been hibernating and furthering the doctrines of the group in the city.
The DSS said the duo were also to be responsible for operations in FCT Abuja, Kaduna and Niger States.
Similarly, the DSS said that based on credible intelligence its personnel in concert with sister security agencies, conducted a counter-terrorism operation on August 29, 2017 inBorno, Bauchi, Yobe and Gombe axis which resulted in the apprehension of one Abdulkarim Mohammed aka BABA MAIGIWA, at Ajilani area of Jere LGA in Borno State.
It said that BABA MAIGIWA was apprehended based on intelligence which indicates his status as a spy/double agent to the Boko Haram group in the North-East region, adding that the suspect has been spying on targets in Maiduguri, particularly troops’ deployments/positioning and subsequently passing same to elements of the terrorists’ group in Sambisa forest, while also pretending to be working for the security forces.
The DSS also said that in a follow up operation after the arrest of Baba MAIGIWA, it arrested the three individuals who are currently cooperating in providing useful information on the diabolical plans of the group.
The Service also said two Golf saloon cars and one Ford vehicle which serving as logistic vehicles for the terrorists have since been intercepted.
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