Photo: Notorius Boko Haram suspect apprehended in Lagos

Operatives of the Inspector General of Police (IG) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have arrested a notorious Boko Haram Commander, Abdulmalik Umar, at a nurse's home where he was receiving treatment for a bullet wound in Lagos yesterday December 20th.

According to the police, the suspect masterminded the explosions at Nyanya and Kuje in Abuja in 2015, as well as several bank robberies in Ondo, Edo and other southern states. He fled to Abuja three weeks ago when some of his gang members were apprehended.

A police source who confirmed the arrest, disclosed that the nurse, who is said to be Umar’s sister, and her husband were also arrested for aiding and abetting criminality.

“He was the one who brought all  the bombs they used during the Nyanya and Kuje attacks in 2015. We have arrrsted some of his members who are in court now. They were the ones who gave us his details and since then we have been looking for him. He has one eye and is responsible for over 200 killings. We arrested four of his gang members three weeks ago in Abuja and recovered four AK47 rifles which they took from the policemen they killed at Gwagwalada. He escaped at that operation with gun wounds and fled to Lagos. We have been on his trail since then. He went to his sister’s house in Mowe to hide. His sister was treating him of the bullet wounds.  We have arrested her and her husband too because they are accomplices. He was the Grand Commander of the attack and rescue operations of the Prison in Niger State early this year where he lost one of his eyes during the operation while over 100 prisoners escaped.” the police source said

Confirming Umar’s arrest, police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, an acting Deputy Commissioner said he would soon be paraded.

“It is true that he was arrested in Lagos. He fled Abuja with gunshot injury and was trailed to Lagos. We arrested some of his gang members three weeks ago and recovered weapons from them. They will be paraded soon.”