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| Arrested Boko Haram suspects |
The suspects, who claimed to be on
their way to Port Harcourt in search of work were said to be moving in a convoy
of 33 Hummer buses when they were intercepted by the soldiers between Arungwa
Junction on the expressway and Imo Gate, the Abia State and Rivers State
boundary.
Following their arrest, the security
agents were said to have screened the suspects where it was discovered that a
Boko Haram terrorist who has been on the wanted list of security agencies was
among them.
The Defence Headquarters in a statement
signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade
said: “A terror kingpin on the list of wanted terrorists of security forces in
Nigeria has been detected in the ongoing screening of the 486 suspects nabbed
while travelling in over 33 Hiace Hummer buses at night along Enugu-Port
Harcourt Expressway last Sunday.
“So far, other security agencies,
including the para-military, have joined the screening exercise to ascertain
the status of the remaining suspects. Those identified as possible security
risk or illegal immigrants are expected to be identified for further action.”
The identified terror kingpin has been taken into custody.
Sagay hails military
Meanwhile, reacting to the
insurgents’ arrest, Constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), commended
the military. He urged them to conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain if
those arrested were actually members of Boko Haram or they were just wandering
about.
Prof Sagay argued that the investigation
would enable Nigerians know the identity of the arrested suspects and their
mission in Port Harcourt.
According to Sagay: “If actually the
arrested suspects are members of the outlawed sect, the normal punishment that
applies to terrorists should be meted to them without delay.
“The military needs to be praised
for being alert. They have demonstrated some qualities we have not seen for
sometime. One is reassured that there is still some alertness and we are happy
about that.
“But the major question that comes
to my mind is what evidence do we have to prove that they are Boko Haram? Yes,
they are suspicious people because how can young people of that age be moving
around in almost 40 buses?
“I think there is need for more
investigation to know exactly who they are and what they were planning to do in
Port Harcourt. It is good they were stopped. It is equally good they are in
custody.
“If they are Boko Haram members, the
normal steps that apply to those planning terrorism should be applied against them.
If they are not, I think they should be sent back because at this period, it is
too critical to have people wandering about without purpose,” he said.
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