Two Suspected ISWAP Fighters Arrested in Lagos

Two suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been arrested in Lagos State by operatives of the State Security Services (SSS).

The suspects, identified as Modu Gana and Ibrahim Dugge, were apprehended on Sunday, December 21, in the Apapa area of Lagos. A security source with direct knowledge of the operation said the arrests were carried out at about 8:45 a.m., adding that both men are currently in detention and undergoing interrogation.

Intelligence reports indicated that the suspects had fled Nigeria’s insurgency-hit North-east region and relocated to Lagos. Their exact mission in the commercial capital was not immediately clear as of press time, and there were no confirmed indications that they were planning an attack.

When contacted, an official of the SSS media unit said the arrests had not yet been brought to the unit’s attention. The agency has maintained a low-profile media approach following internal changes, citing the need to protect its intelligence operations.

Security analysts note that ISWAP has in recent years sought to expand its reach beyond the North-east, raising concerns about its possible presence in other parts of the country.

Nigeria has battled insurgency for more than 15 years, with Boko Haram and its offshoots causing widespread loss of life and displacement, particularly in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. Despite the prolonged conflict, security forces have sustained military operations against the groups.

In May, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, disclosed that 13,543 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters had been killed, while 124,408 others surrendered within two years of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.