Update On Boko Haram Businessman Who Kidnapped The Girls

There are strong indications that the fake businessman who was arrested recently as a kingpin in the network of Boko Haram agents that kidnap the over 200 Chibok girls in Borno State has a lot of security information.

Consequently, the security agencies have moved the Boko Haram kingpin, Babuji Ya’ari, to a secure location in Abuja. He was moved to Abuja early this week from his Maiduguri base, where he was arrested.

A security source said, “I can tell you that the suspect has been moved to Abuja. He was brought to Abuja early this week. He is being interrogated in connection with the abduction of the girls. 

“What is important to the Federal Government now is how to secure the release of the girls. He has made useful information that will assist security agencies.”

The source, who disclosed this to Punch, said Ya’ari was being interrogated in connection with the abduction of the Chibok girls. He said that security agencies were trying to get from him, information that could assist in the release of the girls, who had been in Boko Haram custody for more than 70 days.

According to the source, the General Officer Commanding 7th Division, Nigerian Army, Brig Gen MY Ibrahim, was also at the Defence Headquarters for a strategic security meeting, which might not be unconnected with the arrest of Ya’ari and the ongoing investigation into the abduction of the Chibok girls.

The suspect, said to be a business man, was reported to be under intense interrogation, and he is expected to provide vital information on how the abduction was carried out, and give a clue on the location of the girls in the deadly Sambisa Forest and other hideouts where the girls were being kept.

Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, had in a statement on Monday identified Ya’ari as a leader of a youth vigilance group, popularly known as the Civilian JTF. He had said that Ya’ari used his membership of the Civilian JTF to gather information to aid the activities of the insurgents.

Olukolade said Ya’ari also spearheaded the murder of the Emir of Gwoza, Idrissa Timta, who was killed by the insurgents at Tesan Alade, along the Biu-Garkida Road on May 30, 2014.