Security agencies have moved a suspected Boko Haram leader, Babuji Ya’ari.

Security agencies have moved a suspected
Boko Haram leader, Babuji Ya’ari.

who was alleged to be one of the masterminds
of the kidnap of female pupils from
Government Secondary School Chibok.

Borno State on April 14, 2014, to Abuja
Investigations by our correspondents on
Wednesday showed that the Boko Haram
leader was moved to Abuja early this
week from his Maiduguri base, where he was arrested.

A top security source, who disclosed this to
one of our correspondents, said that
Ya’ari was being interrogated in
connection with the abduction of the
Chibok girls.

He said that security agencies were trying
to get from him, information that could
assist in the release of the girls, who had
been in Boko Haram custody for more
than 70 days.

The source stated, “I can tell you that
the suspect has been moved to Abuja. He
was brought to Abuja early this week. He
is being interrogated in connection with
the abduction of the girls.

“What is important to the Federal
Government now is how to secure the
release of the girls. He has made useful
information that will assist security
agencies.”

According to the source, the General
Officer Commanding 7th Division, Nigerian
Army, Brig. Gen. M.Y. Ibrahim, was also
at the Defence Headquarters for a
strategic security meeting, which might
not be unconnected with the arrest of
Ya’ari and the ongoing investigation into
the abduction of the Chibok girls.

The suspect, who was said to be a
businessman, was reported to be under
intense interrogation, and he is expected
to provide vital information on how the
abduction was carried out, and give a
clue on the location of the girls in Sambisa
Forest and other hideouts where the girls
were being kept.

The Director of Defence Information,
Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, could not be
reached for comments last night as he
did not respond to calls to his phone. Also
a text message sent to him on the
transfer of the terror kingpin did not
elicit a response.

But Olukolade had in a statement on
Monday identified Ya’ari, as a leader of
a youth vigilance group, popularly known
as the Civilian JTF.

He had said that Ya’ari used his
membership of the Civilian JTF to gather
information to aid the activities of the
insurgents.

Olukolade said Ya’ari also spearheaded
the murder of the Emir of Gwoza, Idrissa
Timta, who was killed by insurgents at
Tesan Alade, along the Biu-Garkida Road
on May 30, 2014.

He said that the arrested Boko Haram
spy chief was responsible for the
coordination of several devastating
attacks on military formations and the
detonation of several bombs in Maiduguri
since 2011.

The statement partly read, “A terrorists’
intelligence cell headed by a businessman
who participated actively in the abduction
of schoolgirls in Chibok has been busted by
troops.

“The man, Babuji Ya’ari, who is also a
member of the Youth Vigilante Group,
popularly known as Civilian JTF, which he
uses as cover while remaining an active
terrorist, also spearheaded the murder
of the Emir of Gwoza.

“His main role in the group is to spy and
gather information for the terrorist
group.

“Babuji has been coordinating several
deadly attacks in Maiduguri since 2011,
including the daring attacks on Customs
and military locations as well as the
planting of IEDs in several locations in
the town.”

Olukolade said that the businessman gave
the information that led to the arrest of
some female members of the cell,
including one Hafsat Bako, who was said
to have escaped to Gombe State to avoid
being arrested but was tracked down by
security agents.