Boko Haram kingpin among 486 suspects arrested in Abia – Army

One of the most wanted Boko Haram kingpins is among the 486 suspects arrested by the Nigeria Army in Abia state. The Defence Headquarters said that the Boko Haram kingpin who had early being declared wanted by Nigerian Security forces was discovered among the 486 suspect being presently screened at a secure army barrack in Abia. It could be recalled that at least, the suspects aged between 16 and 24, were being conveyed in 33 buses when they were stopped at the road between Aro-Ngwa and Imo Gate along the Enugu-Aba-Portharcourt expressway around 3am by soldiers of the 144 Battalion, Asa. Some of the buses conveying more persons were said to have sped off and escaped arrest on Sunday. Defence headquarters Spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade in an update on the arrested suspects said on Tuesday that “A terror kingpin in the list of wanted terrorists of security forces in Nigeria have been detected in the ongoing screening of the 486 suspects nabbed while travelling in over 33 Hiace Hummer buses at night along Enugu- Port Harcourt expressway last Sunday. According to the Defence Spokesman, “So far other security agencies including the para- military have joined the screening exercise to ascertain the status of the remaining suspects. Those identified as possible security risk or illegal immigrants are expected to be identified for further action. The identity of the nabbed kingpin was however not revealed in the statement from the Defence Heaquarters. But the statement said “the identified terror kingpin has been taken into custody. Further development will be communicated to you in due course” the statement reads.