Residents of Lagos have been gripped by concern following the reported arrest of two individuals suspected to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), PREMIUM TIMES reports.
The suspects, named Modu Gana and Ibrahim Dugge, were reportedly apprehended on Sunday, December 21, by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS). Sources familiar with the operation revealed that the arrests took place in the Apapa area of Lagos around 8:45 a.m.
The men are currently in custody and undergoing questioning, according to the security source. The arrests came after intelligence suggested that the suspects had moved from Nigeria’s conflict-affected North-east to Lagos.
Attempts to secure official confirmation from the SSS were unsuccessful, with a spokesperson noting that the matter had not yet been formally communicated to the agency’s media unit. Since the reassignment of its former spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, the SSS has adopted a quieter media approach, citing operational efficiency.
At this time, the exact reason for the suspects’ presence in Lagos remains unclear, and there is no immediate indication of plans to carry out attacks in the city.
Security experts, however, have cautioned that ISWAP may be attempting to expand its operations beyond its traditional bases in the North-east, raising concerns about potential threats in other regions.
