How DSS foiled Boko Haram’s plot to bomb Dolphin Estate in Ikoyi

The timely intervention of the Department of State Services, which led to the arrest of 45 suspected Boko Haram members, saved Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos, from a bomb attack in September.

The suspects, charged to a Lagos State Magistrate’s Court sitting in Isolo on Friday, have been sent to Kirikiri prisons in the state.

The DSS, which obtained the remand order on the suspects, told the court that they were arrested in connection with a foiled attack on Dolphin Estate.

The DSS, Punch reports, said the suspects were arrested following intelligence report on their alleged plan to attack the estate, which is in a high brow area in the state.

It said the suspects had volunteered confessional statements, adding that arms were recovered from them.

The DSS urged the court to remand the suspects in prison pending further investigations.

The magistrate, who asked that his name should not be disclosed for security reasons, granted the prayers that the suspects be remanded in prison.

According to the charge filed before the court, the names of the suspects include Abuyi Sheriff, Babagana Ali, Abass Ibrahim, Abubaka Grema, Kabiri Ibrahim, Mustaph Mohammed, Usman Mohammed, Modu Amsami, Isa Agafi, Adamu Jebili and Saja Kamba.

Also among them were: Abba Sagoma, Mallam Buchu, Abdul-Kareem Abba, Babagana Koloye, Usman Buka, Adamu Mohammed, Lawal Mohammed, Tela Abana, Mustapha Mohammed, Isa Agafi, Belo Modu, Kachala Babagana, Modu Abu and Alhaji Modu Mustapha.

An affidavit presented in court disclosed how a team of the DSS cordoned off the area, intercepted the suspects and carried out the arrests.

The DSS disclosed that it had arrested some suspected terrorists in various places in and around Lagos including Kara, Isheri Berger area; Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Alimosho area; Ijora Badia, Apapa area; and Ebute-Meta in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area.

Earlier in the year, two suspected members of Boko Haram were also arrested in the metropolis.

The suspects were apprehended during an operation carried out by men and officers of the Operation Mesa, a joint security outfit comprising members of the armed forces and those of the DSS

The raid had taken place at the Ijora 7-Up area of Lagos, after a tip-off on the activities of a terror network coordinated by Iranians in the city.

The National Security Adviser had also recently issued a security alert on the likelihood of Boko Haram attacking Lagos seaports following concerns expressed by the United States Embassy on the level of insecurity at the country’s seaports.