Moroccan, Togolese unveiled as forces behind crimes, arrested in Borno, Kwara

Some Moroccan and Togolese, numbering three, have been unveiled by the Nigerian Security Agencies as part of forces behind crimes against humanity such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, among other crimes.

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI arrested a suspected foreign terrorist (Moroccan name withheld) believed to have links with the Islamic State (ISIS) following the successful repulsion of an attempted attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The arrest, described by security sources as a major intelligence breakthrough, came after sustained exploitation operations launched by the military in the aftermath of the failed terrorist assault.

In Kwara State, the Nigeria Police Force foiled a planned kidnapping and extortion attempt, arresting two foreign nationals (Togolese) allegedly involved in the criminal plot.

The Nigerian Police said the operation was carried out in line with the strategic policing vision of Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the Inspector-General of Police.

A mobile phone allegedly used by the suspects to issue threatening calls was also recovered during the operation.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kwara State Police Command, the operation followed a complaint lodged at the Okuta Police Division by one S. Ismaila of Okuta.

The complainant reported receiving a series of threatening telephone calls from an anonymous caller demanding the sum of N22 million to prevent his planned abduction.

The suspect also allegedly threatened to kidnap the complainant and kill his younger brother, Musa Ismaila, if the ransom demand was not met.

“Upon receipt of the report, police operatives immediately activated intelligence-driven operational strategies. In collaboration with the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and leveraging technical support, operatives swiftly tracked and arrested two suspects identified as Yakubu Ismaila (male) and Hadiza Kosia (female), both nationals of the Republic of Togo,” the statement said.

Ejire-Adeyemi disclosed that preliminary investigations linked the suspects directly to the criminal conspiracy.

She added that during interrogation, both suspects allegedly confessed to their roles in the attempted kidnapping and extortion plot.

“A mobile phone used to issue the threatening calls was recovered from one of the suspects and has been taken into police custody as a critical exhibit,” she said.