The faction leader of Boko Haram, AbuMusab Al-Barnawi, has been arrested by the Department of State Security Services according to a report by Television continental.
Al-Barnawi who was recognised as the leader of the Boko Haram sect by the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIS) was arrested by DSS operatives three months before Sambisa forest was finally captured by troops on Operation Lafiya Dole.
DSS confirms arrest of AbuMusab al-Barnawi, ISIS-recognised Boko Haram leader
The DSS had said: “About six months ago, we burst a terrorist attack that was to happen in the United States. This earned the service a letter of commendation.
“In fact, President Barack Obama placed a call to President Muhammadu Buhari to acknowledge what we did.
“We did not make it a media issue because before you know it, there will be editorials asking us whether we had addressed security challenges in Nigeria before helping the US.”
The arrest of the factional Boko Haram leader prompted a call from US president, Barrack Obama to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Al-Barnawi is recognised as the third most wanted terrorist in the world
According to Vanguard, a top security source confirmed the arrest of the Boko Haram leader .
“The suspect, who was responsible for major killings, kidnap of locals and foreigners between 2012 and 2015, is in our custody.
“In fact, when the rest of the world got to know that the key terrorist had been captured by us, they had been sending their officials to come and interrogate him in our custody.
“We had prepared adequately for the arrest of the suspect, who is the third most wanted terrorist in the world, before the takeover of the Sambisa forest by the Nigerian troops.’’
Al-Barnawi was a former spokesperson for the terrorist group before he was appointed factional leader of the sect by ISIS.
Shekau was accused of going against the directives of the group which necessitated the appointment of a new head although SHekau still considers himself the true leader of the group.
