THE Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested one Abdussalam Enesi Yunusa, a 400-Level undergraduate student of Federal University of Technology, Minna, for allegedly recruiting in Kano for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). This was as the service intercepted a budding extremist cell affiliated to ISIS in Daura township of Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State. The arrest of Yunusa was sequel to available intelligence which indicated his terrorist antecedents and covert drive to indoctrinate and recruit susceptible youths in the country. Prior to the arrest, the suspect was alleged to have completed arrangements to embark on a journey to join an ISIS terrorist training camp in Libya, with other Nigerians whom he recruited for the organisation. The recruits included Muhammed Rabiu, Yahaya Momoh Jimoh and Zainab Sunday. In a statement from the DSS, signed by Tony Opuiyo, the suspect is studying for a degree in Information and Media Technology. He said he had been subsequently radicalised and became a member of an extremist cell currently undergoing terrorist training in Libya. “He listed one Aminu and Ibrahim Jihadi (Nigerien), as other ISIS agents operating in Nigeria and the West African sub-region,” the statement read. “One Ibrahim Mohammed Daura, Zaharadeen Salisu and five other elements of the proscribed extremist group, Ansaru, were arrested by the Service. This group was discovered in an active stage, as its members were already coordinating themselves for attacks in Katsina and Kano states. “In the same vein, on January 22, 2016, one Obansa Salami, Ejide Tijani aka Abu Uwaise II, Mohammed Rabiu aka Ubida II, Zainab Mohammed and Abdulqadir Salisu Ahmad were arrested in Kano by this Service, while migrating to Libya, with their immediate families, including infants, in a bid to join ISIS. This group was apprehended after painstaking monitoring of its network and plans. “On January 29, 2016, the Service arrested Mohammed Aliyu Ndako in Kwara State. Ndako is a 17-year-old undergraduate student of a tertiary institution in the state. He was arrested sequel to credible intelligence on his plans with one Abdulkadir Salisu Ahmad a.k.a Daddy Tall, another student in Kano State, to carry out coordinated lone-wolf attacks on selected populated targets in Nigeria, preferably worship centres or recreation venues. “Suspect had hitherto been communicating with foreign extremist elements, while sourcing online terrorist training and support. “Within the window of these tactical operations, between the month of December 2015 and February 2016, the Service burst the network of syndicated kidnap gangs spanning different regions in the country, especially Kebbi, Zamfara, Niger, Nasarawa, FCT, Oyo and Osun states. “Foremost in this line, was the arrest of a gang of five kidnappers, Abubakar Hassan, Usman Musa, Usman Adamu and Idrisa Babangida Ahmadu at Ife junction, Osun State, on February 3, 2016. “On February 5, 2016, the fifth member of the gang, Saidu Isyaku was arrested at Ojoo area, Oyo State. Six AK-47 rifles, five magazines and about 1,000 rounds of ammunition were recovered from these kidnappers. This gang has been active in the South West axis of the country and were at advanced stages of kidnapping high value targets for huge ransom, before they were intercepted. “Another breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping was the killing of Abubakar Mohammed (aka Buba), and an unidentified member of his group, on February 8, 2016 close to Jebba Medical Centre, Jebba, Kwara State, by security operatives as they tried to escape during a shootout with security operatives. “Mohammed was a notorious kidnap kingpin known for his brutality and various acts of lawlessness. It is disheartening that this criminal and his men had terrorised, to no end, residents of the South West zone. He was also linked to the kidnap of the elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae, in Ondo State. “In the wake of deliberate vandalism of oil pipelines by criminal elements in the South-South region, the Service arrested one Nengi Samuel Ikiba aka Kockman Abula, a notorious pipeline vandal on January 27, 2016, in Bayelsa State. Ikiba confessed to vandalising several pipelines in the state, including the 24” Agoda/Brass Oil pipeline at Idema community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. “The modest success of the Service in its support to the Federal Government to achieve its desired economic objectives and stability may also be noted,” it added.]]>