Police arrest wanted Boko Haram kingpin in Ondo

•Troops raid robbers camps, recover cows, sheep in Zamfara

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a wanted Boko Haram kingpin, Idris Ibrahim Babawo in the state.Babawo, a 42 year-old terrorist from Bauchi State, was nabbed on Sunday by the police operatives and handed over to the Nigerian Army.

A statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen Sani Usman in Abuja yesterday, said the arrested Boko Haram member goes by the names “Idoko” and “Nagada.

“He is believed to be on serial number 165 on the wanted Boko Haram terrorists list. He was handed over to the 32 Brigade, 2 Division of the Nigerian Army on Monday, September 25, 2017 by the state police command.

“Preliminary investigation shows that the kingpin is from Chinade village, Katagum Local Council Area of Bauchi State. He escaped from the Northeast due to the military onslaught on the terrorists, to evade arrest and prosecution. But nemesis caught up with him,” the statement said.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Femi Joseph, explained that Babawo was arrested at Isua, Akoko South East Local Council Area, while trying to escape. He said the suspect left Bornu State and was heading towards Ibafo in Ogun State, when his vehicle developed an auto fault at Isua, a town notorious for kidnapping in recent times.

This, he said, caused a break in the transit and made the driver to look for auto-mechanic to fix the vehicle, while the passengers waited for him. He stressed that in the process, a vigilance group in the community, led by one Daniel Eyinju intercepted him when he wandered around the area.

Meanwhile, troops of 1 Brigade, 1 Division Nigerian Army, on Operation Sharan Daji on Monday, carried out a successful raid on suspected armed bandits’ camps at Kahiru forest in Bakura Local Council Area of Zamfara State.

Usman explained: “On approaching the camp, the suspected bandits opened fire on the troops and attempted to escape. The troops returned fire, killing one of the armed bandits and recovered 50 cows, 82 goats and 25 sheep abandoned by them.”