Court approves detention order for ‘10 ISWAP members’ arrested in Osun

A federal high court in Abuja has approved a 60-day detention order for 10 suspected members of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), who were arrested in Osun state. 

Emeka Nwite, the trial judge, granted the request to detain the suspects following an ex-parte application filed by Y.I. Umar, counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS).

The detained individuals include: Adamu Abubakar (aka Abu Aisha), Babagana Bashuli, Muhammed Adam, Mustapha Abacha, and Katuru Muhammed, who are the 1st to 5th respondents respectively.

Babakura Abacha, Muhammed Ciroma, Ali Gambo, Muhammed Umoru, and Muhammed Bundi are the 6th to 10th respondents respectively.

According to NAN, the judge held that the application has merit and granted the prayer of the secret police

“An order is hereby made enabling the State Security Service, the applicant, to detain the respondents for sixty (60) days pending the conclusion of investigation,” the judge said.

The case was adjourned to March 3 for mention.

THE AFFIDAVIT

In the affidavit deposed by Yamuje Benue, a DSS official, the secret police said the suspects were arrested in llesa east LGA in Osun state.

The DSS alleged the suspects were arrested on December 16, 2024 on reasonable suspicion of their involvement in terrorism activities.

The secret police alleged that the suspects were arrested while undergoing training on how to manufacture and detonate explosives.

The agency said its preliminary investigation revealed that the respondents were members of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group

The DSS claimed the suspects are members of the late Abubakar Shekau terrorist group, who escaped from Sambisa forest to Osun state because of the activities of the Nigerian army.

“Intelligence at the disposal of the applicant revealed that the respondents were planning to launch a Boko Haram /ISWAP cell in Osun State,” DSS said.

“That the respondents were arrested while undergoing training on how to manufacture and detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs).”

ANOTHER APPLICATION

Nwite also granted the request of the DSS to detain Ayomide Akintunde and Nurudeen Adesiyan for 60 days pending the conclusion of the investigation.

DSS said the duo were arrested following an intelligence report from a foreign intelligence service, linking them with a Moroccan terrorist.

The secret police said the Moroccan terrorist, who is currently in detention in Spain, communicated with the duo through their Nigerian telephone numbers.

The DSS said the suspects admitted ownership of the telephone numbers, which they had been using for more than ten months.