Army Arrests Two suspected Boko Haram LG Bosses

Ebun Francis

The Nigerian Army on Thursday confirmed the arrest of the two men for alleged links with the Boko Haram terrorists. The arrested suspects are Alhaji Shettima Lawan, chairman of Mafa Local Government Area, and the Vice chairman of Kaga local government also in the state.

Maj.- Gen. Lucky Irabor, The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, made the disclosure at a news conference at the headquarters of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Maiduguri.

According to Irabor, “All I can say is that the Chairman is a big supporter of Boko Haram.

“We heard that he harboured Boko Haram members along with his father. That he kept the Boko Haram members because the father begged him to do so.

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“The Chairman was in the habit of accommodating people that had fled from the bush.

“At some point he was valuable to us being with the Civilian JTF to fight Boko Haram. But that does not mean we cannot investigate him for a crime especially one like this.

“We have also arrested the Vice Chairman of Kaga Local Government and he is undergoing interrogation,” Irabor said.

Reacting to the arrest, Bornu state commissioner for local Government and Chieftancy affairs called the development a twist. According to him, “While we do not intend to question the intelligence gathering, judgement and authority of the military, to us at the Ministry for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, the whole development is a worrisome twist.”

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“It is a twist because, for years, the caretaker chairman has been known for his courage in joining hunters to go into front lines to battle Boko Haram fighters. His commitment in the fight against insurgents is known to different Army Commanders that served in Mafa local government area in the last two years.”