There are reports that a top Boko Haram commander and an associate of Abubakar Shekau, Khalid Albarnawi, who is also the leader of the Ansaru Islamic Sect, has been arrested by the security agents.

According to the report which emanated from the Twitter handle of Ahmed Salkida, a journalist believed to very close to the Boko Haram sect, Albarawi was arrested in Lokoja, Kogi State by 9am on Friday close to a military facility. According to Salkida, if the arrest is confirmed, then it will be one of the greatest feats in the war against terror.

Salkida, however, wondered why such top Boko Haram commander could be arrested without security operatives talking about it.


But confirming to the Punch shortly after Salkida’s query, The Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar said the arrest was made possible through the collaboration of security agencies.

Abubakar also confirmed that Albanarwi was second in command to Abubakar Shekau in the operation of the Boko Haram sect.

He said with the latest arrest, Boko Haram sect were counting their days.

He said, “I can confirm that he (Albarnawi) is in custody. It is a product of the existing synergy among the security agencies which led to this breakthrough in the war on terror.

“Nigerians should assist the security agencies with relevant information and intelligence, I can say that the days of Boko Haram are numbered.

“We have just confirmed that he has been nabbed and he is with the relevant agencies and as time goes, people would know how this kind of person was nabbed and it is due to the synergy existing among the security agencies.

“He has been arrested and he is with the relevant agencies and he is cooperating with giving information.

“He is the second-in-command as far as the Boko Haram hierarchy is concerned. So their days are numbered by the grace of God.”

We recalls that Shekau in a recent video said the end had come, a statement many said was that of surrendering. He said ‘’ “This is my desire: that whoever sees this will hear nothing but greetings between me and you. Only Allah knows the rest, as you believed (and) as you submitted. For me the end has come.

“This is only the message I want to send to you for you to understand that this is certainly I. This is why I did this.’’