Fleeing Boko Haram commander arrested in Ondo

Olaleye Aluko and Peter Dada

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the arrest of a wanted Boko Haram terrorist, Idris Babawo, in Ondo State.

The army said the suspect, who is number 156 on the list of Boko Haram members declared wanted, was arrested by the police on Sunday and handed to army authorities at the 32 Brigade.

Our correspondent learnt that the 42 year-old Babawo, who hails from Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State, fled from Sambisa Forest in the North-East before he was arrested by the police in an undisclosed location in Ondo State.

Also, the army in Operation Sharan Daji, Zamfara State, has raided suspected bandits’ camps in Kahiru forest in the Bakura Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the troops shot dead one of the suspected bandits and recovered 50 cows, 82 goats and 25 sheep rustled by the suspects.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Sani Usman, confirmed the incidents.

He said, “On Sunday at about 2pm, the police arrested Babawo, who goes by the aliases, Idoko and Nagada. He is believed to be on serial number 156 on the wanted Boko Haram terrorist list.  He was handed over to the 32 Brigade, 2 Division, on Monday by the Ondo State Police Command.

“Investigations showed that he escaped from the North-East due to military onslaughts on the terrorists with a view to evading arrest and prosecution. But nemesis caught up with him.

“Also, troops raided suspected bandits’ camps at Kahiru forest, Zamfara. On approaching the camp, the suspected bandits opened fire on the troops and attempted to escape. The troops returned fire, killing one of the bandits. We recovered 50 cows, 82 goats and 25 sheep abandoned by the bandits.”

Source punchng.