Boko Haram Commander Arrested in Maiduguri

The Joint Task Force (JTF) on “Operation Restore Order’’ says that it has apprehended Mohammed Zangina, a suspected Boko Haram commander, in Maiduguri.

JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, said this via a statement on Sunday in Maiduguri.

Musa said that Zangina was arrested after an operation at the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Maiduguri.

“The JTF has arrested a high-profile Boko Haram commander and `Shura’ Committee member at about 12:30 a.m. on Sunday. He was arrested in GRA, Maiduguri,” he said.
Musa said that Zangina was in Maiduguri to plan for series of attacks before he was captured.

“He came to Maiduguri to plan several deadly attacks against civilians and security personnel.

“ Zangina, a.k.a Malam Abdullahi, is often referred to as Alhaji Musa. He is the leader of Boko Haram in the north-central part of the country; he is the coordinator of most of the suicide attacks and bombings in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Jos and Potiskum.

“He is a key member of the `Shura’ Committee of the Boko Haram terrorists and he is among those declared wanted. A bounty of N25 million was placed on him by the JTF in November 2012,” he said.

Musa said that Zangina had survived numerous attempts to capture him before he was eventually arrested in Maiduguri.

“He has survived several security manhunts in his hideouts in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Jos and Potikum before his eventual arrest,” he added. (NAN)