Aviation officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, yesterday arrested a suspected Boko Haram member who was listed among the 100 wanted terrorist kingpins recently published by the Nigerian Army.
The director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, confirmed this in a press statement circulated electronically to newsmen yesterday.
This came barely two weeks after the chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai published posters containing photos of the 100 most wanted Boko Haram kingpins in Maiduguri, the headquarters of ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’.
The posters were printed in durable runner broadsheets.
Aviation officers who may have seen the widely circulated picture posters were said to have noticed the wanted man as he was about to board a Lagos-bound flight.
“The declaration of 100 suspected Boko Haram terrorists has started to pay the desired dividend as one of them was arrested as he attempted to flee,” Col Usman said.
“Today (Sunday) at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, a man suspected to be one of the wanted suspected Boko Haram terrorists, Chindo Bello, was apprehended by Aviation security as he was boarding Aero Contractors’ Airline flight to Lagos. The suspect has since been handed over to the military intelligence for interrogation and prosecution.”
The army spokesman thanked the eagle-eyed and patriotic security agents and good citizens for the tip-off that led to the arrest of the suspect.
He also reiterated the Nigerian Army’s call on Nigerians to be more vigilant and assist security agencies with information about the wanted terrorists, their sponsors and other criminals living among innocent citizens.
