A week after the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, raised the alarm that terrorists from the North West were moving into Oyo State, 10 suspected members of Boko Haram were on Friday arraigned before an Abuja court for plotting establish a Boko Haram cell. /ISWAP in Osun State.
The prosecution of the suspects, all from the North, has increased tension in the Southwestern states.
Security sources in Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states told Saturday Tribune of increased surveillance at hotspots in the four states.
According to security sources, Ijesa area in Osun State, Oke Ogun in Oyo State and Ondo/Akoko axis of Ondo State are areas of interest.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday gave the green light to the State Security Service (SSS) to detain 10 suspected terrorists who had planned to launch a Boko Haram/ISWAP cell in Osun State for 60 days until the conclusion of the investigation.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on an ex parte motion filed by SSS counsel YI Umar, held that the application was meritorious and accordingly granted it.
“An order is hereby made allowing the State Security Service (also known as DSS)/applicant to detain the respondents for 60 days pending the conclusion of the investigation,” the judge ruled and adjourned the matter until March 3, 2025.
The SSS, in the ex parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1942/V/2024, had included Adamu Abubakar (also known as Abu Aisha), Babagana Bashuli, Muhammed Adam, Mustapha Abacha, Katuru Muhammed, Babakura Mallam Abacha , Muhammed Ciroma. , Ali Gambo, Muhammed Umoru and Muhammed Bundi as first to tenth respondents respectively.
The SSS, in the motion filed on December 20, 2024, requested a prayer. The SSS, in the affidavit filed by Yamuje Benye, a staff of the agency attached to the Department of Legal Services, National Headquarters, stated that the suspects arrested in Llesa East Local Government Area of Osun State, adding that they were arrested on December 16, 2024, on reasonable suspicion of participation in terrorism.
The security team said preliminary investigation revealed that the respondents were members of the terrorist group Boko Haram/ISWAP.
“The intelligence available to the applicant revealed that the respondents were planning to launch a Boko Haram/ISWAP cell in Osun State.
“That the respondents were arrested while receiving training on how to manufacture and detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs),” the affidavit said.
The agency alleged that the suspects were members of the defunct Abubakar Shekau terrorist group, who escaped from Sambisa Forest to Osun State due to the series of attacks carried out by the Nigerian Army against them.
He said that the respondents are helping the applicant to discover other members of the terrorist group who are still at large, adding that releasing the respondents at this stage of the preliminary investigation would be detrimental to the applicant's efforts to arrest other members of the terrorist group. .
The SSS said the activities of the respondents constitute a potent threat to the national security and corporate existence of Nigeria and that “it is in the interest of justice and national security to grant this request.”
In a related development, Justice Nwite granted an order allowing the SSS to detain Ayomide Akintunde and Nurudeen Adesiyan for a period of 60 days pending the conclusion of the investigation. The judge issued the order after Umar, who also appeared on behalf of the SSS, filed the ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1933/V/2024 to this effect.
Subsequently, the matter was adjourned to March 3 for mention. The SSS, in the affidavit filed by Mercy Ebo, stated that the suspects were arrested on December 19, 2024 by the Tactical Duty Team at Ajape Lane 3, Modakeke, Ife East Local. Osun State Government Area.
The agency said they were later transferred to its headquarters because of an intelligence report from a foreign intelligence service that linked them to a Moroccan terrorist.
“Preliminary investigation and intelligence report revealed that a Moroccan terrorist currently in the custody of the Spanish National Police communicated with Ayomide Akintunde (F) and Nurudeen Adesiyan through GSM numbers: 08168359934 and 08168542908, respectively.
“That the Moroccan terrorist is being investigated for making jihadist publications and for acquiring firearms with the intention of carrying out terrorist attacks against identified targets in Nigeria,” the SSS stated.
The agency added that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects admitted ownership of the identified GSM numbers that they had been using for more than 10 months. According to the agency, releasing the respondents at this time would jeopardize the investigation, as had been assumed. a broader dimension.
The SSS said there was a need to conduct a thorough investigation into the suspects to ensure that they do not pose any threat to the security of Nigeria or the world at large.
He added that the suspects are assisting with vital information that would lead to the arrest of other members of the gang who are at large, hence the need to grant the request.
Governor Seyi Makinde had said a week ago that armed terrorists were moving from the North West to Oyo State.
The governor said he was concerned because less than two kilometers from where he spent his vacation in a tourist area of the state, he discovered that terrorists had already established a camp in the area.
Makinde said his state is currently facing challenges due to the migration of terrorists. He said renewed security challenges from bandits who are entering the state from the northwestern states pose serious danger to the southwestern region.
He spoke in Ibadan at the annual interfaith service to mark the New Year. The event was held at the Governor's Office.
Makinde said: “The bad people, mainly from the north-west area, are affected and are moving to Oyo State.”
“The year 2024 has been a challenging year, including in terms of safety and security. We had some incidents of arson, armed robberies, kidnappings, but what I would say is that we will redouble our efforts in 2025. Some of these things, we will address them directly,” Governor Makinde said.
He said he was told at a security briefing that several terrorists, mainly from the northwest, “are moving here.”
He said he would not sleep until the State is free from all forms of insecurity.
READ ALSO: Boko Haram: 110 women renounce terrorism and embrace peace in Borno