Anxiety has enveloped parts of Lagos following the arrest of two suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) by security operatives in the state.
The suspects, identified as Modu Gana and Ibrahim Dugge, were reportedly arrested on Sunday, December 21, by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS).
A security source familiar with the operation said the arrests were carried out in the Apapa area of Lagos at about 8:45 a.m.
The source confirmed that the two men are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation by security officials.
Findings indicated that the operation was based on intelligence suggesting that the suspects had recently relocated from the conflict-ravaged North-east to Lagos.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the SSS were unsuccessful, as officials of the agency’s media unit said the incident had yet to be formally communicated to them.
The SSS has largely maintained a low-profile media posture since the redeployment of its former spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, a move the agency attributes to the need for operational effectiveness.
As at the time of filing this report, the reason for the suspects’ presence in Lagos had not been established.