Ahmad Salkida, a journalist known for his access to top Boko Haram commanders, says the Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Khalid Albarnawi, a top leader of the Ansaru sect which recently reunited with Boko Haram.
Ansaru, which was established in 2012, was a splinter group of Boko Haram.
Albarnawi, who is regarded in counter-terrorism circles to be “as important as Abubakar Shekau”, was reportedly arrested in Lokoja, Kogi state, and then transferred on Friday.
He is regarded as the most influential member of Nigeria’s terror network with contacts to other Jihadi groups in north Africa and the middle east.
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Salkida said Albarnawi is believed to have reconciled with the leader of Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP), also known as Boko Haram.
In series of messages on Twitter, Salkida described the arrest as one of the greatest feats in the fight against insurgency.
Below are some of the tweets:
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Breaking News: Reports reaching me say, Nigeria’s apex security agency has recorded one of “its greatest feat in the war on terror.”
— Ahmad Salkida (@ContactSalkida) April 1, 2016
The security source said the DSS arrested Khalid Albarnawi of Ansaru, who is believed to have reconciled with the leader of ISWAP today.
— Ahmad Salkida (@ContactSalkida) April 1, 2016
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Update on Barnawi: he was arrested at 9am yesterday close to a military facility in Lokoja, Kogi, not Niger State – Intelligence sources.
— Ahmad Salkida (@ContactSalkida) April 2, 2016
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Update on Barnawi: Surprised that the Nigerian authorities have not denied nor confirm this high level arrest after several queries.
— Ahmad Salkida (@ContactSalkida) April 2, 2016
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Efforts to confirm the report from appropriate authorities yielded no result, as all DSS and federal government sources contacted declined to speak on the matter.
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