Residents of Lagos are on high alert following the arrest of two suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, in the state. According to reports, the suspects, identified as Modu Gana and Ibrahim Dugge, were apprehended by operatives of the State Security Service, SSS, on Sunday, December 21, in the Apapa area of Lagos.
The arrests were carried out at approximately 8:45 a.m., and the suspects are currently being held in detention and undergoing interrogation. A security source familiar with the operation revealed that the arrests were made possible by intelligence reports indicating that the suspects had relocated from Nigeria’s conflict-hit North-east to Lagos.
The SSS has not officially confirmed the incident, as the agency’s media unit stated that the information had not been formally communicated to them. This is consistent with the agency’s low-profile media approach, which it has maintained since the redeployment of its former spokesperson, Peter Afunanya.
The purpose of the suspects’ presence in Lagos remains unclear, and there is currently no evidence to suggest that they were planning to carry out attacks in the city. However, security analysts have warned that ISWAP has been seeking to expand its activities beyond its traditional strongholds in the North-east.
The arrests have raised concerns among residents of Lagos, given the group’s history of violent attacks in other parts of the country. ISWAP has been responsible for numerous attacks in Nigeria’s North-east, resulting in significant loss of life and displacement of people. The group’s potential expansion into other parts of the country, including Lagos, is a worrying development that underscores the need for increased vigilance and cooperation among security agencies.
The Nigerian government has been working to combat the threat posed by ISWAP and other militant groups, and the arrests in Lagos are a significant development in this effort. As the investigation into the suspects’ activities continues, residents of Lagos and other parts of the country will be watching closely to see what measures are taken to prevent future attacks and ensure public safety.
