From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
THE Nigeria Army has nabbed a dreaded Boko Haram terrorist, Mohammed Sani Nafiu, who has been accused of killing Major General Mamman Shuwa (Retd) in 2012.
Nafiu was arrested in Hotoro General Area of Kano State, on Sunday.
The troops also arrested a Boko Haram sub- commander, Ali Mohammed also known as Amir, aged 25. He was arrested on Saturday.
Parading the suspects yesterday, at the headquarters of the 3 Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Kano, the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Hamisu Hassan said preliminary investigations revealed that Nafiu aided Shuwa’s killing in front of his home on November 2012.
He said Nafiu, aged 35, was a preacher of Boko Haram’s late leader, Mohammed Yusuf’s sect in Baga and added that he was reported to have led his followers to reinforce Boko Haram fighters during their battle with security agencies which led to Mohammed’s defeat in 2009.
The Brigade Commander also disclosed that items recovered from Nafiu included a black Volkswagen Gulf vehicle, with registration number DELTA GWK 775 PP, one GSM phone and the sum of N21, 000 only.
He added that the two suspects were helping the army in its investigations to ascertain their real status in the Boko Haram.
Hassan reiterated the stance of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai in ridding Nigeria of Boko Haram and warned fleeing terrorists that the Armed Forces would not relent in its efforts to crush them.
But, yesterday’s arrest contradicted an earlier statement from the Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order in Borno State which claimed on May 6, 2013 it arrested the suspected killers of the general in Maiduguri.
Spokesman for the JTF at the time, Sagir Musa said in a statement that the arrest followed series of investigations by the task force.
“Recall that an elder statesman, retired Maj.- Gen. Mohammadu Shuwa was shot dead by gunmen in front of his house in Gwange, Maiduguri on November 12, 2012.
“Preliminary investigation by the JTF identified two key suspected Boko Haram terrorists: Mohammed Ibn Saleh and Abdulkareem Ibrahim, as the masterminds of the killing,” Musa said at that time. He added that a special operation was carried out by the JTF to get the suspected killers.
“Consequently, a special operation was conducted on November 15, 2012 by the task force with a view to arresting the culprits, which led to the death of Ibn Saleh during a shootout in a house at Bulabulin Ngarnam.
“Similarly, on December 2, 2012, Abdulkareem was arrested with a fatal injury that resulted in his death on December 6, 2012. A member of the syndicate, one Bulama Bur died on December 2, 2012 in an encounter with JTF troops,” Sagir said.
He said the JTF also arrested four other members of the gang.