Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja has permitted the Department of State Service (DSS) to detain 10 suspected terrorists, who had planned to launch a Boko Haram/ISWAP cell in Osun, for 60 days pending conclusion of investigation.
In a ruling on the ex-parte motion moved by their lawyer, Justice Nwite held that the application was meritorious and accordingly granted.
He subsequently adjourned the matter to March 3 for mention.
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 in Osun State.
He said the suspected terrorists were arrested on December 16, 2024, upon reasonable suspicious of their involvement in terrorism.
DSS said preliminary investigation revealed that the respondents were members of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group and were arrested while undergoing training on how to manufacture and detonate Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
The agency alleged that the suspects were members of the late Abubakar Shekau terrorist group, who escaped from Sambisa Forest to Osun State due to 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.
According to the DSS, releasing the respondents at this stage of the preliminary investigation will be detrimental to their efforts to arrest other members of the terrorist group.
It said the activities of the respondents constitute potent threat to national security and corporate existence of Nigeria.
In a related development, Justice Nwite equally granted an order enabling the DSS to detain Ayomide Akintunde and Nurudeen Adesiyan for a period of 60 days pending the conclusion of investigation.
The judge made the order after Y. I. Umar, who also appeared for DSS, moved the motion ex-parte.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until March 3 for mention.
The DSS, 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 LGA of Osun.
The agency said they were, thereafter, transferred to its headquarters over intelligence report from a foreign Intelligence Service, linking them with Moroccan Terrorist.
“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,” it said.
According to DSS, the release of the respondents at this time would jeopardise the investigation, as investigation has assumed a wider dimension.
The DSS said there was a 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 said 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.
