A week after the Oyo State governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, raised the alarm that terrorists from the North West were relocating to Oyo State, 10 suspected Boko Haram members were arraigned in an Abuja court on Friday for planning to set up a cell of Boko Haram/ISWAP in Osun State.

The arraignment of the suspects, all from the North, has heightened tension across South West states.

Security sources in Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states spoke of increased surveillance in flash points in the four states.

According to the security sources, Ijesa area in Osun State, Oke Ogun in Oyo State and Ondo/Akoko axis of Ondo State are areas of interest.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday gave the State Security Service (SSS) the go-ahead to detain the 10 suspected terrorists who had planned to launch a Boko Haram/ISWAP cell in Osun State for 60 days pending the conclusion of investigation.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on an ex-parte motion moved by the counsel for the SSS, Y.I. Umar, held that the application was meritorious and accordingly granted.

?An order is hereby made enabling the State Security Service (aka DSS)/applicant to detain the respondents for 60 days pending the conclusion of investigation,? the judge ruled and adjourned the matter till March 3, 2025.

The SSS had, in the motion ex-parte marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1942/V/2024, listed Adamu Abubakar (aka Abu Aisha), Babagana Bashuli, Muhammed Adam, Mustapha Abacha, Katuru Muhammed, Babakura Mallam Abacha, Muhammed Ciroma, Ali Gambo, Muhammed Umoru and and Muhammed Bundi as first to 10th respondents respectively.

The SSS, in the motion filed on December 20, 2024, sought one prayer.

The SSS, in the affidavit deposed to by Yamuje Benye, a personnel of the agency attached to the Legal Service Department at the national headquarters, averred that the suspects were arrested in llesa East Local Government Area of Osun State, adding that they were arrested on December 16, 2024, upon reasonable suspicion of their involvement in terrorism.

The security outfit said preliminary investigation revealed that the respondents were members of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group,

?Intelligence at the disposal of the applicant revealed that the respondents were planning to launch a Boko Haram /ISWAP cell in Osun State.

?That the respondents were arrested while undergoing training on how to manufacture and detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs),? the affidavit said.

The agency alleged that the suspects were members of the late Abubakar Shekau terrorist group, who escaped from Sambisa Forest to Osun State because of the series of onslaught being carried out by the Nigerian Army against them.

It said the respondents are aiding the applicant to unravel other members of the terrorist group who are still at large and added that releasing the respondents at this stage of the preliminary investigation would be detrimental to the applicant?s efforts to arrest other members of the terrorist group.

The SSS said the activities of the respondents constitute potent threat to national security and the corporate existence of Nigeria and that, ?It is in the interest of justice and national security to grant this application.?

In a related development, Justice Nwite granted an order enabling the SSS to detain Ayomide Akintunde and Nurudeen Adesiyan for a period of 60 days pending the conclusion of investigation.

The judge made the order after Umar, who also appeared for SSS, moved the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1933/V/2024 to the effect.

The matter was subsequently adjourned until March 3 for mention.

The SSS, in the affidavit deposed to by Mercy Ebo, averred that the suspects were arrested on December 19, 2024, by the Service Tactical Team at Ajape Lane 3, Modakeke, Ife East Local Government Area of Osun State.

The agency said they were, thereafter, transferred to its headquarters over intelligence report from a foreign Intelligence Service, linking them with a Moroccan terrorist.

?Preliminary investigation and intelligence report revealed that a Moroccan terrorist currently in custody of the Spanish National Police Service, communicated with Ayomide Akintunde (F) and Nurudeen Adesiyan on GSM numbers: 08168359934 and 08168542908, respectively.

?That the Moroccan terrorist is being investigated for making jihadist publications and for acquisition of firearms with the intent of conducting terrorist attacks against identified targets in Nigeria,? the SSS said.

The agency added that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects admitted ownership of the identified GSM numbers which they had been using for more than 10 months.

According to the agency, the release of the respondents at this time would jeopardise the investigation, as investigation had assumed a wider dimension.

The SSS said there was need for a thorough investigation of the suspects to ensure that they do not pose any security threat to Nigeria or the world at large.

It added that the suspects are helping with vital Information that would lead to the arrest of other members of the gang who are at large, hence the need to grant the application.

Governor Seyi Makinde had said a week ago that armed terrorists were relocating from the North West to Oyo State.

The governor said he was disturbed that less than two kilometers from where he spent his holiday in a resort area in the state, he discovered that the terrorists had already established a camp in the area.

Makinde said his state is currently facing challenges from terrorists? migration.

He said the renewed security challenges from bandits who are entering the state from the North West states posed grave danger to the South West region.

He spoke in Ibadan at the annual interfaith service to mark the New Year.

The event was held at the Governor?s Office.

Makinde said, ?the bad people from majorly the northwestern zone get in the heat and they are relocating to Oyo State. Year 2024 has been a challenging year, even in terms of safety and security. We had a few fire incidents, armed robbery, kidnappings, but what I would say is that we would redouble our effort in 2025. Some of these things, we will deal squarely with them.?

He said that at a security briefing he was informed that a number of the terrorists mainly from the North West ?are relocating here.?

He said he would not sleep until the state is free from all forms of insecurity. (Nigerian Tribune)

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