DSS foils plot to bomb Ikoyi estate

Unknown to Nigerians, the Boko Haram terrorist group had perfected plans to extend its deadly carnage to the south western part of the country by causing havoc in the highbrow Ikoyi area of Lagos State which it had targeted to bomb.

The plan was foiled by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) who arrested 45 suspected members of the group in connection with a botched attack on Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos in September.

This came to light as the DSS on Friday charged the suspects to a Lagos State Magistrate’s Court sitting in Isolo and the court ordered the remand of the suspects in Kirikiri prisons, also in Lagos State.

The DSS told the court that they were following intelligence report on their alleged plan to attack the estate, which is in a high brow area in the state.

The security operatives told the court that 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.

However, the DSS could not be reached as it had yet to announce a new spokesperson.

Read also: Security alert as Boko Haram infiltrates Lagos

Recently, 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.

The National Security Adviser had 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.

The Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Enforcement and Intelligence, Mr. Dan Ugo, had on behalf of the Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.), signed the alert.

Following the security alert, it was learned that the Nigeria Customs Service had begun the restriction of persons into its various commands and formations in Lagos.

The development had also brought about an increase in the level of security checks at all access points into the ports.

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