We Have Arrested 1000 Boko Haram Suspects In South West ..Hausa Leader

The Sarkin Hausawa of Lagos, Alhaji Sani Kabir, on Thursday, told the Federal Government that northerners in the South-West have arrested more than 1,000 members of the Boko Haram insurgents in some parts of the South-West.

Speaking when the Arewa Council of Chiefs in the South West paid a visit to the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, Alhaji Kabir said the arrests were made at different times.

According to him, those arrested were Boko Haram members who fled from the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF)/military attack on the insurgents in the North-East and those who came to the South-West to further the insurgency.

He also said the council had ensured that Boko Haram did not take root in the South-West, stressing that such a development would complicate the security challenges facing Nigeria.

“So far in the South West, we have peace and this is achieved through the collaboration of Arewa people and chiefs.

“You can confirm with the security agencies, we have arrested more tham 1,000 Boko Haram members throughout the South-West states.

“Any suspicious movement, we promptly report to the security agents, because we believe that the problem is actually the Nigerian problem, but if there is any breakdown of law and order in the South-West, we are the prime targets, irrespective of whether you are a member of Boko Haram or not.

“All the Arewa sarkis (kings) in the South-West are up and doing, to make sure that we do not allow any breakdown of law and order in our communities,” he said.

On how the arrests were made, he said, “we inform our leaders when new people come into our midst, and we observe their behaviour. Some of the leaders in the South-West are northerners, some of them are from Borno State, they can know.

“There were even instances where JTF do come from Borno State to identify some of them,” adding that those identified as Boko Haram members were immediately handed over to security agencies.

Responding, the minister, who received the group on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, thanked the Arewa leaders for their efforts to ensure that insurgency did not extend to the South-West.

“I want to thank you for the enormous support you have given to this government and for the enormous support you have given to Mr President as a person right from the time of the 2011 electioneering to date,” he said.