Anxiety has heightened across parts of Lagos following the arrest of two suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province by security operatives in the state.
The suspects, identified as Modu Gana and Ibrahim Dugge, were reportedly apprehended on Sunday, December 21, by operatives of the State Security Service.
A security source familiar with the operation told PREMIUM TIMES that 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, where they are being interrogated over their alleged links to the terrorist group.
Investigations indicated that the arrests were based on intelligence suggesting that the suspects had recently relocated from the North-east, a region long affected by insurgency, to Lagos.
Attempts to secure official confirmation from the SSS proved unsuccessful, as a source in the agency’s media unit said the development had not been formally communicated.
The SSS has largely kept a low media profile since the redeployment of its former spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, citing operational considerations.
As of the time of filing this report, the motive behind the suspects’ presence in Lagos has not been established.