CJTF arrests thousands of Boko Haram suspects in Lagos 

The Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF,  in Lagos, has arrested thousands of Boko Haram suspects, who infiltrated the state.

This was on Wednesday disclosed  by the CJTF Commander, Mr Kumar Sanda, at an award ceremony in Lagos.

Sanda highlighted the efforts of his team to preventing the infiltration of Boko Haram insurgents and bandits, who had been dislodged from the North into Lagos.

According to the CJTF Commander, who was honoured with the Best Security Group in Lagos award from the Nigerian Human Rights Community at the event, which took place at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, regular arrests were being made at trailer parks, quarries, markets, and other locations where people from the North are known to gather upon arriving in Lagos.

Sand reiterated the commitment of the CJTF to its mandate to ensuring that Lagos State does not become a haven for insurgents, escaping military operations in the North.

“If I should mention the number of Boko Haram members we have arrested in Lagos State, people will not believe it. But we have arrested thousands,” Sanda disclosed.

“The CJTF monitors trailer parks, and quarries, and checks truck pushers because we understand the channels through which they enter Lagos. Our people must remain vigilant. Not all Abokis are bad, but not all are good either. We are committed to keeping Lagos free from Boko Haram and banditry.

“Boko Haram has no domain in Lagos State. The Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor is constantly in touch with us to ensure the people sleep with their eyes closed.”

Sanda warned against assuming that all terrorists operating in the North are Nigerians, adding that many insurgents and bandits are non-Nigerians who infiltrate the country’s borders and pose as citizens.

“Whenever you see a man from Borno State, you might feel scared because of Boko Haram. But many of those you see are not truly Nigerians. That’s not to say there are no Nigerians among them,” he said.

“It’s a fact that Boko Haram originated in Borno State, and we monitor individuals from Borno across Lagos. We know when new arrivals come in because we track the truck routes. A person from Borno can identify others from his state; the same goes for indigenes of Kano and other states.”