- Reveals how Kogi mosque owner initiated him into sect
Some Boko Haram suspects arrested by operatives of the Special Intelligence Response Team (SIRT) for attempting to bomb Abuja, the federal capital, have said that they rob banks in order to raise the money they would use in acquiring the bombs they use on their suicide missions.
The arrest of five suspected members of the deadly sect, which has been terrorising the metropolis of the Federal Capital Territory, is seen as a major breakthrough in the bid to dismantle the deadly cell that is coordinating the bombings.
The Nation gathered that the newly established SIRT, an elite unit of the Nigeria Police Force, was designed by the Inspector General Police, Solomon Arase, to combat terrorism, armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
Several improvised explosive devices (IEDs), laptops and IED materials were also said to have been recovered from the suspects.
Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that the arrest of the suspects and subsequent recovery of IEDs and other dangerous materials have put members of the cell, who are mainly from Okene area of Kogi State, in disarray and cause their sympathisers to panic.
Security sources in Okene, Kogi State, who asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak on the matter, said several members of the cell based in Abuja were returning to Okene in droves while others have relocated to neighboring states.
Sources at the Force Headquarters, Abuja said the plan to effectively dislodge the sect from Abuja was intensified after the multiple bomb attacks on Kuje Police Station and Nyaya areas of the city.
A source also disclosed that the exhibits and intelligence gathered from the scene of the explosion were transferred to the highly trained operatives of SIRT deployed by the IGP to apprehend the culprits.
The source added that two of the suspects identified as Abdulazeez Muhazab and Ishiaka Salihu were trailed to a house at Karmajiri, behind Military Area Cemetery, off Airport Road, Abuja, where several explosives, detonators, chemicals in both liquid and powdered form used for making bombs and several other ready-made explosives were recovered.
The suspects were also said to have identified one Haulaki in military custody and one Abu Hamza as their leaders in Abuja.
Haulaki, also known as Abdulwaheed Nasiru, handed over to the police, was said to have disclosed during interrogation the addresses of three houses within Abuja and nearby Suleja, Niger State, where they produced and stored explosives.
On the strength of their confessions, the team proceeded to Gauaraka area in Suleja, Niger State; Iddo Village, off Airport Road Abuja and Dan Asato area of Suleja, where five ready-made IEDS, chemicals used for bomb making, a detonator, a laptop computer, two books on several chemical and engineering materials, an Ipad loaded with IED, a car number plate, a scale and a knife, among others.
It was gathered that Haulaki also led the operatives to Galadima area where a senior member of the sect, Abdulahi Nasir, who is also a local electronic engineer, was arrested.
Answering questions from reporters, Haulaku described himself as a native of Okene, Kogi State.
He said: “I am married and my wife is currently pregnant. I had just primary education which I did not finish. I am an Igbira man and my people are mainly Muslims.
“I came to Abuja seven years ago to learn auto mechanic at Games Village and graduated four years later to establish my own workshop at Galadimawa Roundabout.
“In 2013, I joined Boko Haram. There is this mosque along the Road before Total Filling Station in Aiyoke area of Okene, Kogi State. Though I rented an apartment very close to the mosque, one of the sons of the landlord of that house, who is my friend, Abubakar, who has been killed during an operation, regularly visited that mosque. He was the one who introduced me to the Imam and the owner of the mosque, Mustapha, who is currently in the custody of security agents.
“Mustapha was the one who indoctrinated me into the Boko Haram sect. He urged me through his teachings, which were mainly after the Jumat prayers on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, to be faithful to God and do His wishes.
“He also said I should oppose people who go against the teachings of Prophet Mohammed.
“Mustapha usually urged us to support the Jihad in the North Eastern part of the country in any way we could, and that if we could not donate money to the cause, we should at least pray for those waging the war.
“In some of his teachings, he told us that western education is a sin and working for government is also a sin. He then asked those who have gone through secondary and university education to destroy their certificates. A lot of people who were secondary school and university graduates in the mosque destroyed their certificates. That singular gesture endeared me to the sect.
“Aside Abubakar, I met some other young men, like Usman, Abduljalal, Abu Hamza, Bilal and Haron. These men were highly devoted to the cause and they told me that they usually rob unbelievers and use the money to support the cause.
“Abu Hamza is our leader and also one of the bomb manufacturers. He was the one who led us to rob two banks in Owo, Ondo State and Okene, Kogi State. It is through that means that he raises money for bomb materials and others. He was also the one who taught Usman how to make the bombs.
“I am a very good driver and my duty is to drive vehicles to various destinations. I usually don’t ask if there is bomb in those vehicles. All I do is to follow instruction.
“A few months ago, some security agents came from Kaduna, arrested Abu Hamza and took him away. A few days to Sallah, Usman was also arrested in Abuja and I got instructions from very senior members of our sect to move all the ready-made bombs and materials out of Usman’s house in Suleja.
“I moved them to my brother’s house who is also a member of our sect at Iddo area of Abuja. I also gave two Ak-47 rifles and some bombs to a senior member, Abu Husssien, who took them to Okene, Kogi State.
“A few days before the last Sallah, some vigilante men arrested and handed me over to the military intelligence who detained and later handed me over to the police special team.
“I regret joining the Boko Haram Sect.”