Five commanders and 30 fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been arrested in the Federal Capital Territory by joint security operatives.
It was learned that the ISWAP members were arrested by operatives comprising the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and other security agencies.
The dreaded terrorists were arrested after their hideouts in parts of Abuja, Mararaba, and other satellite towns in the Federal Capital Territory were successfully dismantled.
In a chat with The Punch, a security source explained that the ISWAP members relocated to the FCT following the heavy bombardment of their enclaves and camps in the North-West by the Nigerian Air Force.
The security source revealed that the terror suspects were planning a big attack in Abuja before they were nabbed by a massive counterintelligence operation led by the DSS.
He stated the suspected terrorists were being held at a DSS facility and were already providing useful information that had led to the arrest of some of their members.
The security officer disclosed that some of the ISWAP members in the FCT were masquerading as artisans, cart pushers, and security guards in the city.
He said: “A massive counter-intelligence operation is going on to disrupt, neutralize and destroy the ISWAP terrorists in the FCT. Many commanders and their foot soldiers have been arrested and they are currently helping us in our investigations.
About five commanders and 30 fighters have been apprehended but we expect to capture more suspects as we widen our dragnet.”
Speaking with the newspaper on Thursday, the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya said he had not been briefed on the arrest of the suspected insurgents.
