The Police in Nigeria has arrested a top Boko Haram member who described himself as the ‘Chief Butcher’ of the insurgent group in a confession.
The Police authority said the alleged terrorist, who gave his name as Mohammed Zakari, was arrested by detectives attached to the Bauchi State Police Command at about 2pm on Saturday.
The 30-year old was arrested along Darazo-Basrika Road while fleeing from a counter insurgency operations going on around the Balmo Forest.
The suspect, who hails from Kaigamari Village, Daptchari in Darazo Local Government Area, Bauchi State, operated from the Balmo Forest Camp and is linked with a recent slaughter of seven people, including women and children.
The Police said its findings as well as disclosures from the suspect would assist the law enforcement agencies in tracking down some other members of the terror cell.
The suspect, whom investigation reveals was tutored in the art of insurgency at Gombe forest under the leadership of an insurgent at large, one Abba Taura and moved to Balmo Forest only three months ago, was discovered to have actively participated in the April attack against Customs officers at Kari Town, along Maiduguri Road, Bauchi State.
Meanwhile, the Police High Command has called on the citizens in the affected areas to be on guard for any suspicious or strange character fleeing from Balmo Forest.
It also called for the understanding and support of the public concerning the efforts of the Police and other security forces in tackling insurgency, terrorism and other related crimes, noting that although the war on terrorism is unrelenting, it is certainly not insurmountable and must be won with the cooperation of all.
