Two men suspected of being members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were apprehended in Lagos State on Sunday, December 21, PREMIUM TIMES reports.
The suspects, Modu Gana and Ibrahim Dugge, were taken into custody by operatives of the State Security Services (SSS).
A security source familiar with the arrests told PREMIUM TIMES that the men were detained in Apapa, Lagos, around 8:45 a.m. on Sunday and are currently being held for questioning.
The arrests reportedly followed intelligence suggesting that the suspects had fled from the insurgency-affected North-East to Lagos.
When contacted, an SSS media official said the arrests had not been officially reported to the agency. Since the redeployment of former spokesperson Peter Afunanya, the SSS has maintained a low-profile media approach to safeguard its intelligence operations.
As of press time, the purpose of the suspects’ presence in Lagos was unclear. There were no reports indicating that they were planning any attacks in Nigeria’s commercial hub. However, security analysts note that ISWAP has been seeking to extend its influence beyond the North-East.
Nigeria’s ongoing fight against insurgency
The Boko Haram insurgency has persisted for over 15 years, with the group splitting into two factions in 2012 and 2016. The conflict has spread beyond the core BAY states (Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe), which have borne the brunt of the violence.
The insurgency has led to the deaths of thousands of Nigerians and displaced millions. In response, security forces have intensified operations. In May, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu disclosed that under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, 13,543 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters have been killed, while 124,408 others have surrendered over a two-year period.
