BEVERLY HILLS, April 03, (THEWILL) – Military sources have confirmed the arrest of the leader of the Ansaru Islamic Sect, Khalid Albarnawi, who was described as the second in command to Abubakar Shekau in the hierarchy of the Boko Haram terrorists group.
Acting Director, Defence information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, speaking with a Thisday correspondent on the telephone added that Albarnawi 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.
Abubakar said that Albanarwi was second in command to Abubakar Shekau in the hierarchy of the dreaded Boko Haram Sect and attributed the arrest of Albarnawi to effective collaborative efforts among the various security agencies in the country.
“I can confirm that he (Albarnawi) is in custody. It is a product of the existing synergy among the security agencies which led to this breakthrough in the war on terror,” he said.
“Nigerians should assist the security agencies with relevant information and intelligence, I can say that the days of Boko Haram are numbered.
“We have just confirmed that he has been nabbed and he is with the relevant agencies and as time goes, people would know how this kind of person was nabbed and it is due to the synergy existing among the security agencies.
“He has been arrested and he is with the relevant agencies and he is cooperating with giving information.
“He is the second-in-command as far as the Boko Haram hierarchy is concerned. So their days are numbered by the grace of God.”
However, Abubakar was not specific about which of the security agencies were in custody of the top terror suspect.
Ahmad Salkida, a journalist known for his access to top Boko Haram commanders, had broken the news in series of messages on Twitter.
Albarnawi was reportedly trained in the North African country of Algeria, and formed a splinter group of the Boko Haram in January 26, 2012.
On June 21, 2013, the United States Department of State declared the leader of the Boko Haram Sect, Abubakar Shekau, and two of his lieutenants Abubakar Adam Kambar and Khalid al-Barnawi as ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorists’ under Section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224.
Story by David Oputah
