Lagos police deny arresting Boko Haram members

IKEJA – Lagos State Police Command, Thursday, described as untrue, reports that it arrested some members of the Boko Haram sect, Tuesday, reinstating its resolve to protect lives and property of Lagosians.

The police noted that the 22 persons with questionable disposition it arrested, claimed to be Islamic preachers from Ogun State.

The suspects, it was gathered, gave the name of their sect as Dawal-Teblik Islamic sect, claiming to have been sent to preach Islam in Lagos by Allah.

During interrogation, the suspects whose ages ranged between 12 and 45 years, told policemen that upon receiving the directive from Allah, they  trekked from Omu in Ogun State to Lagos for two days, with the aim of settling down in Ketu, where they hoped to spend 25 days preaching before leaving.

When news of the arrest filtered, rumours had it that Boko Haram sect could have invaded Lagos.

But allaying Lagosians’ fear, the command spokesman, Mr Samuel Jinadu, said: “The command want to put it straight that nothing of that nature happened in Lagos State.

”The truth of the story was that men of the Rapid Respond Squad led by their commander,  intercepted some 22 persons  within the ages of 12 to 45 years, who were local preachers from Yoruba land trekking  from Omu town in Ogun State towards Ketu in Lagos State. Weapons were not found on them or anything incriminating.”

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BY EVELYN USMAN 

-Vanguard