Three Boko Haram escapees arrested in Lagos

• Suspected armed robber dies in gun duel with police

Three suspected Boko Haram terrorists, who fled Borno State, were arrested in Lagos last month, an Islamic cleric, Mohammed Abdullahi said yesterday.
Abdullahi made this during a meeting between the acting Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, and stakeholders in Area D Command held at the Isolo Town-hall.

According to the cleric, the bulk of Boko Haram terrorists who escaped the northeastern part of Nigeria to Lagos were arrested at Ajao Estate, wondering why they always find solace in the area.

He said: “A lot of people think Boko Haram issue is just about the Northeast, but they are mistaken. We have been arresting fleeing Boko Haram members in Lagos. I do not know if it is as a result of the proximity to the airport. Most of the escapee Boko Haram members who came to Lagos have been arrested in Ajao Estate.

“Just three weeks ago, we arrested three of them who ran from Borno State. We have a way of identifying them. The Seriki Hausa in Ajao Estate has the contact of all the Local Government Chairmen in Borno State. That way, we usually know those Boko Haram elements, who have fled the area to other parts of the country. We have been doing this since 2014 and we have been working in collaboration with the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno. Once we identify them, we contact the JTF and they come and arrest them.

“We were not working with the police in Lagos because we thought the police would not collaborate with us. But now that the CP has indicated commitment to partner all stakeholders and enthrone community policing, we would be working with the police.”

Reacting to Abdullahi’s disclosure, Edgal assured the stakeholders that the police would verify the claims by the cleric because there were serious security issues. He urged residents to be more vigilant, noting that Lagos cannot be isolated from security challenges in other parts of the country.

Edgal said: “The issue raised by him is a vital security issue. I have taken his number. We must verify the facts. Nevertheless, it calls for increased vigilance. We cannot isolate Lagos from security challenges in other parts of the country. We are going to have a meeting with all Arewa leaders in the state so that localities where they have majority of their people are policed more closely.”

At the event were the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence (SCIID), Bolaji Salami; Area D Commander, Olasoji Akinbayo; Chairmen, Isolo and Ejigbo Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), Olaleye Shamsudeen and Bello Obe, as well as traditional rulers, market and religious leaders among others.

Meanwhile, policemen attached to the Ijanikin Division, Ojo, a Lagos suburb, yesterday killed a suspected armed robber and recovered arms and ammunition.

It was gathered that the suspect was a member of a five-man gang, who operated on a motorcycle marked LAR929VW. They were said to have held residents of Oto/Awori hostage when a patrol team stormed the area. A gun war ensued, which led to the death of one of the suspects, while others fled with gunshot wounds.

Confirming the incident, the command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said two locally made pistols with five unexpected cartridges were recovered. He said the suspects also abandoned their operational motorcycle, which the police also recovered.“The body has been evacuated to Badagry General Hospital morgue for autopsy. Effort is being made to arrest other fleeing hoodlums,” he said.