One of the Boko Haram suspects declared wanted by the Nigerian Army was on Wednesday arrested in Sapele, Delta State.

The 35-year-old Boko Haram suspect, whose name was given as Bukar Abacha, was arrested by officers of the 19 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Sapele.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that Bukar Abacha, who hails from Borno State, was arrested some hours after arrival at Hausa Quarters in Sapele metropolis following intelligent report.

The intelligence report was said to have been forwarded to the Joint Task Force (JTF) code-named Operation Pulo Shield by members of the Arewa community.

It was gathered that the suspect has been subsequently whisked to the army headquarters in Abuja.

A senior army officer in Sapele, who pleaded anonymity, revealed that Abacha was in possession of the list of wanted Boko Haram suspects in the state at the time of the arrest.

Leaders of the Arewa community, who handed over the suspect to the army, said the suspect was looking strange, psychologically imbalance and uncomfortable in their midst which aroused their suspicion that he might be a wanted suspect.

The officer added that many of the Islamic sects had migrated from the North-East of the country to the South-East, following the military offensive against the sect in recent times.

He said all hands must be on deck to arrest all the fleeing suspects.

Meanwhile, soldiers from the 19 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Sapele, have gone on a “Show of force/confidence-building patrol” and sensitisation spree in Sapele and its surrounding on the need for inhabitants to watch for strange movements and report to security agencies.

While pasting the lists of 100 wanted Boko Haram suspects by the Nigerian Army in some strategic places in Sapele metropolis during the sensitisation exercise, the army disclosed that “the aim is to create awareness and as well make the people conscious of the fact that an enemy may be hiding among them.” (Nigerian Tribune)

•Photo shows Joint Task Force (JTF) operatives.

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