Major General Chris Olukolade
Some Nigerians over the years have consistently maintained that the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, must have sympathisers and memberships in government and security agencies, considering how effective and professional their attacks have been. The arrest of an officer of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) on Sunday, has put paid to this suspicion.
A Police source told our Correspondent in a telephone interview from Maiduguri, Borno State, that “a high profile Boko Haram member, who is an officer of Nigeria’s Immigration Services, Ahmed Grema Mohammed, was named as one of the security personnel among those carrying out terrorist attacks in the country.”
The revelation came after he was arrested by the men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Mohammed, who is an officer of the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) attached to the Nangere office of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Yobe State, was apprehended at a checkpoint on the Maiduguri-Damaturu road while allegedly on his way to kill a former special adviser to a past governor of the state.
“Most of the personnel named by Mohammed have been arrested, while security agencies are on the trail of others.”
The news of Mohammed’s arrest was contained in a JTF statement signed by the task force spokesman, Lt. Col Sagir Musa.
According to the statement, Mohammed had been on the wanted lists in the country and was arrested on August 17, this year for impersonating a lieutenant in the Nigerian Army.
“Mohammed confessed to be actively involved in the killings of some senior civil servants, security agents, and politicians in Damaturu who spoke against the activities of Boko Haram, particularly the former chairman of Damboa Council, Alhaji Lawal Kawu.
“He also took part in the attack on the old Police Headquarters in Damaturu, where some policemen were killed and large quantity of arms and ammunition carted away.
“In addition, he was among the terrorists that attacked Damaturu Prison, burnt some primary schools, the State CID office and the Police Safety Vehicle, among others.
“The suspect revealed to JTF that he and 15 other members of the organization were intensively trained for three months on G3 and AK 47 rifles, as well as in assassination and special operations in Niger Republic.
“He also revealed names of some security personnel that participated in terrorists’ attacks in Borno and Yobe states.”
