Hundreds of suspected Boko Haram members have been arrested in Lagos State, according to the Commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Lagos State, Mr Kumar Sanda.
Sanda made the announcement on Wednesday during an award ceremony in Lagos, where he highlighted the CJTF’s efforts to prevent Boko Haram insurgents and bandits from infiltrating the state.
Kumar was honoured with the Nigerian Human Rights Community’s Best Security Group in Lagos award at an event held at the Airport Hotel in Lagos.
According to the CJTF Commander, arrests are done on a regular basis at caravan parks, quarries, marketplaces and other locations where northerners congregate when they arrive in Lagos.
He reaffirmed the CJTF’s commitment to respecting the Lagos State government’s mission to prevent the state from becoming a safe haven for militants fleeing military operations in the north.
“If I should mention the number of Boko Haram members we have arrested in Lagos State, people will not believe it. But we have arrested thousands,” Kumar said.
“The CJTF monitors trailer parks and quarries and checks truck pushers because we understand the channels through which they enter Lagos. Our people must remain vigilant. Not all Abokis are bad, but not all are good either. We are committed to keeping Lagos free from Boko Haram and banditry.”
He added, “Boko Haram has no domain in Lagos State. The Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor is constantly in touch with us to ensure the people sleep with their eyes closed.”
Sanda also warned against assuming that all terrorists operating in the North are Nigerians. While not absolving Nigerians entirely, he claimed that many insurgents and bandits are non-Nigerians who infiltrate the country’s borders and pose as citizens.
“Whenever you see a man from Borno State, you might feel scared because of Boko Haram,” he said. “But many of those you see are not truly Nigerians. That’s not to say there are no Nigerians among them.
“It’s a fact that Boko Haram originated in Borno State, and we monitor individuals from Borno across Lagos. We know when new arrivals come in because we track the truck routes. A person from Borno can identify others from his state; the same goes for indigenes of Kano and other states.”
