Security operatives carried out a successful raid against the sect’s leaders in Kano.

In what appeared to be a significant victory by Nigerian security operatives against the Boko Haram militant group, top commanders of the sect were arrested on Sunday.

Sources in the State Security Service, SSS, say Abu Qaqa, the sect’s spokesman and other top commanders were arrested when the Kano State Joint Task Force, JTF, carried out a sweeping raid on the sect’s hide-outs in Kano.

The Kano JTF has confirmed the raid and the arrests but could not confirm the identity of the arrested Boko-Haram leaders.

However, independent sources have told PREMIUM TIMES that the sect’s spokesman, Abu Qaqa was one of those arrested.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the non-disclosure of the details of the arrested officers was because the arrested members were refusing to co-operate with security operatives.

The Federal Government is also being careful about disclosing the names of the arrested officials apparently for fear of embarrassment, the type it suffered earlier in the year when the government disclosed that Abu Qaqa, the sect’s spokesman had been arrested, and it turned out to be false.

Spokesperson for the SSS, Marilyn Ogar, refused to comment on the arrests.