A wall painted by Boko Haram is seen in Damasak March 24, 2015. B REUTERS/Joe PenneyThe Nigerian Army has arrested a high profile Boko Haram member in Borno state, it said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the arrest took place on Tuesday.
The announcement came the same day reports emerged that Abu al-Barnawi had replaced Abubakar Shekau. The suggestion was made by the Islamic State in the latest edition of its magazine.
“On Tuesday 2nd August 2016, at about 8.30am, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE with assistance of Vigilantes on routine checks, identified and arrested a high profile suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Mohammed Mohammed Zauro at Sabon Gari, Damboa Local Government Area, Borno State,” said Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman.
He said preliminary investigation shows that “the suspected terrorist kingpin was arrested as he was trying to flee to Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, from Sambisa forest. The troops recovered a Gionee brand of mobile telephone handset and a fake SAIE/JIBWIS identification card to perfect his escape and the sum of N7,900.00k”.
Similarly, troops also intercepted another suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Lawal Aboi, along Damboa-Bale road. According to him, he was on his way to voluntarily surrender to the troops in Damboa because he was tired of fighting for no just cause. Both suspects are being further interrogated, Colonel Usman said.