• Abubakar Shekau is
public enemy No. 1 •
Kabiru Sokoto faces
interrogation panel •
Jonathan, IGP, others
review strategy
Security agencies have
drawn up a list of wanted
leaders of the Islamic sect,
Boko Haram in furtherance
of the ongoing war
against terrorism in the
country.
Top on the list is the sect’s
leader, Abubakar Shekau,
according to
investigations in Abuja by
The Nation on Sunday.
Other names on the list
were not revealed for
security reasons but
sources said the names
were compiled based on
‘useful tips’ given by the
spokesman of the group,
Abu Qaqa, to
interrogators.
His fellow top strategist of
the group, Kabiru Sokoto,
who was re-arrested by
security operatives on
Friday at Mutum Biu,
Taraba State, is also now
facing interrogation.
Kabiru is strongly believed
to be the mastermind of
the Christmas Day
bombing of St. Theresa’s
Catholic Church, Madalla,
Niger State in which over
40 people died.
Sources confirmed last
night that the security
agencies are now on the
trail of more co-ordinators
of the sect, including their
leader, Shekau.
It was gathered that most
of the co-ordinators have
gone underground or
changed their locations
following the arrest of
Qaqa who is widely rated
as a ‘vital strategist.’
A top source said: "We are
definitely after more
coordinators of the sect,
including their spiritual
leader, Imam Abubakar
Shekau. We have launched
a nationwide search for
them.
"We have a list we are
working on. We have been
able to identify the key
strategists of the sect. The
arrest of Abu Qaqa by the
State Security Service has
brought a setback to Boko
Haram and they are
feeling the loss.
"With useful confessions
by Abu Qaqa, the target of
smashing the sect is
realizable. Although most
of the leaders or
strategists have gone
underground, it is
apparent that security
agencies are no longer
giving them any breathing
space."
On the re-arrested
Christmas Day bomb
mastermind, Kabiru
Sokoto, the source said:
"We have started
interrogating the suspect
on his role within the sect;
the alleged sponsors of
Boko Haram; what he
knows about the
Christmas Day bombings;
and how he escaped from
the custody of the Police
on January 15.
"Being a prime suspect,
other security and
intelligence agencies
might collaborate with the
SSS in probing him. The
probe of his initial escape
was also done by a panel
raised from all security
agencies and the military.
"The ongoing
interrogation of the
suspect is a round- the -
clock exercise."
The source added: "The
suspect might appear
before the Force
Disciplinary Committee of
the Police on how he
escaped from a five-man
police team in Abaji."
Security has been
tightened around the
detained Police
Commissioner Zakari Biu
and other five suspects
facing trial.
"There is a heavy security
around Biu and other
policemen on trial since
we got the news of the re-
arrest of Kabiru Sokoto
which will enhance the
work of the FDC. The panel
has the opportunity to
cross-check statements
made by Biu and others
from Kabiru Sokoto," one
source said.
"Ideally, Kabiru Sokoto
ought to be handed over
to the police again by the
SSS but the multi-
dimensional nature of the
investigation into the
Boko Haram menace
might not allow that.
"There is no doubt Kabiru
Sokoto will appear before
the police panel."
Shekau is yet to react to
the re-arrest of Kabiru
Sokoto from his hide-out.
Shekau had, in a January
12 message to President
Goodluck Jonathan, said in
part: "This is also my
message to the President
of Nigeria, who has come
out to say negative things
about us and also a lot of
harm to us. God has given
us victory and we have
done what we want to do.
This is almost 11 years.
our members are being
killed!
"Anything people want to
say or do, we say enough
is enough! We serve God
and we do not harm
anybody, but anybody
that looks for our trouble,
we will face such person
or persons! We follow the
tenets of the Quran and
anybody that thinks he
can fight God shouldn’t
think his prayer or praying
in the mosque can save
him! Any muslim that
cheats and hides under
the cloak of religion, if we
know such person, we
wont hesitate to eliminate
him.
"Yes, I am saying so
because it doesn’t take
five minutes to kill just as
we’re being killed. We
follow the teachings of the
Quran. This is what God
has told me to explain.
Allhamdulillah!’’
It was also learnt that the
President met with the
Acting Inspector General of
Police, Mr. Mohammed
Abubakar and other
security chiefs at the
Presidential Villa on Friday
after the re-arrest of
Kabiru.
The meeting was to
review the strategy on
checking Boko Haram
A source said issues
relating to the escape and
re-arrest of the Sokoto
were discussed with the
President tasking the
security agencies to get to
the roots of the Boko
Haram menace and track
down the brains behind it.
The source said the Taraba
State Commissioner of
Police was summoned to
the meeting to give an
insight into how Sokoto
was trailed to the state
where he was arrested.
The President, it was
learnt, stressed the need
to explore all avenues,
especially with the arrest
of Sokoto, to unravel all
the knotty details behind
the deadly attacks of the
sect.
"I can confirm to you that
there was an emergency
security convened by the
President following the
sensational arrest of
Kabiru Sokoto. The IGP and
some top security persons
attended the meeting. The
CP in Taraba was flown to
Abuja to specifically brief
the meeting and every
effort is being made to get
to the roots of the Boko
Haram menace.
"The President was
specific on what he wants
done now that Sokoto is
back in the net of the
security agencies. He
wants all information to
be extracted including
details on how members
of the sect operate, their
sponsors and otherwise",
the source said,

www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/36543-boko-haram-sss-draws-up-wanted-leaders-list.html