Two suspected ISWAP fighters arrested in Lagos

Deadly Jihadist attack on Niger army base claims 34 soldiers

Nigerian security agents have reportedly arrested two men suspected of being fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Lagos.

The suspects, identified as Modu Gana and Ibrahim Dugge, were taken into custody on Sunday morning in the Apapa area of the state by operatives of the State Security Services (SSS), according to a Premium Times report.

The arrests were carried out at about 8:45 a.m., the source said, adding that both men are being held for interrogation.

Security officials believe the suspects travelled to Lagos after fleeing the conflict-hit north-east, where ISWAP and its rival faction, Boko Haram, have waged a violent insurgency for more than 15 years.

An official of the SSS declined to comment, saying the arrests had not been formally brought to the agency’s media unit. The domestic intelligence agency has limited public disclosures since redeploying its former spokesperson, citing operational security concerns.

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Authorities have not disclosed the purpose of the suspects’ presence in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, and there was no immediate indication that they were planning an attack. Security analysts, however, have warned that ISWAP has increasingly sought to expand its networks beyond its traditional strongholds in the north-east.

Nigeria’s insurgency, which began in 2009, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, particularly in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. Boko Haram split into rival factions in 2012 and 2016, with ISWAP emerging as a more organised offshoot aligned with the Islamic State group.

Despite sustained military operations, the conflict has persisted, though authorities say security forces have made significant gains. In May, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu said Nigerian forces had killed more than 13,500 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters and secured the surrender of over 124,000 others since President Bola Tinubu took office in 2023.

Oluwatosin Ogunjuyigbe is a writer and journalist who covers business, finance, technology, and the changing forces shaping Nigeria’s economy. He focuses on turning complex ideas into clear, compelling stories.

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