Four suspected members of the Boko Haram Islamist sect have been arrested by the Borno Youths Vigilance Group (BYVG) in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State.
Eyewitnesses said the four — one of whom is an aide of leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau — were arrested by members during a stop-and-search patrol operation of the BYVG in Galtimari Ward on Gombale Road.
Speaking on the development, Chairman of the vigilante group, Abubakar Mallum disclosed that the arrests took place on Friday morning, and that the arrested commander believed to be close to Shekau would help in the unravelling the storehouse of the group’s arms and ammunitions.
He said also that 15 other suspects were equally arrested and handed over to the local JTF commanders at Giwa Barracks for further investigation. This group of 15, he revealed, were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday in Zajeri, Gwange I and II and Bulabulin.
The arrest notwithstanding, suspected members of the sect attacked seven communities in Gwoza Council, killing people with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrol-bombs.
The assailants similarly attacked six other communities: Gathahure, Hwa’a, Tihezeh, Hrazah, Hembe and Gjigga, located on the border of the state with the Republic of Cameroun.
With recent successes in the battle against the sect, Governor of the, Kashim Shettima has appealed to fleeing members of the Borno Elders Forum (BOEF) to return and join ongoing efforts at raising the state from the rubbles of its security challenges.
He made the call on Friday while distributing relief materials donated to victims of Boko Haram insurgencies by the Borno Elders Forum
“We know that some of the elders have remained in Maiduguri in spite of the numerous happenings,” he noted. “But some others could not withstand the pressures of the insurgency and they left along with members of their families to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.”
