27 days after escape… Madalla bombing suspect, Sokoto re-arrested
Deputy Director, Public Relations of the Department of State Services Marilyn Ogar said yesterday at a press briefing in Abuja that Sokoto was recaptured by a joint team of security forces at about 4:30am in a ‘clothes rack’ at a house in Mutum-Biu in Gassol local government area of Taraba State. “On February 10th at […]
Deputy Director, Public Relations of the Department of State Services Marilyn Ogar said yesterday at a press briefing in Abuja that Sokoto was recaptured by a joint team of security forces at about 4:30am in a ‘clothes rack’ at a house in Mutum-Biu in Gassol local government area of Taraba State. “On February 10th at about 04:30 hours this service and the military affected the arrest. On his escape, he had taken refuge in Umaisha in Toto local government area of Nasarawa State before he fled to Taraba, where he was recaptured,” Ogar said.
Sokoto was brought to Abuja by a combined team of army and SSS personnel armed to the teeth. Same team surrounded and kept vigil at the hall in SSS the office where he was paraded before journalists. “My name is Kabiru Umar or Kabiru Sokoto,” he said. He only allowed to identify himself and was taken away. He appeared calm.
As to why there was no delay in parading the suspect, Ogar said: “We have to parade him hot.” She said he was found to be the actual leader of the Boko Haram sect in Sokoto State. “Kabiru was instrumental to the visit of the late leader of Boko Haram sect Mohammed Yusuf to Gagi village, Sokoto, in February 2009, during which he was declared leader of the sect in Sokoto State.”
However, conflicting results from Taraba State say Sokoto was rearrested in a round hut alongside his brother in a village near Mutum-Biyu, Gassol local government. The exact village could not be located but Weekly Trust spoke to residents of Mutum Biyu, who said all they have heard are rumours, as nobody who claimed to have witnessed the arrest. One Alhaji Salisu said he is not aware of the arrest, adding that Mutum-Biyu has always been a peaceful place and finds it hard to believe that the Boko Haram kingpin was arrested there.
Another resident, Salihu Maikifi, said he has heard the story of the arrest of Sokoto from a youngster and is finding it difficult to believe the story. According to him, there is no fear or tension in the town, as everybody is calm and going about their normal businesses.
But police authorities in the state have confirmed the re-arrest of Sokoto in Gassol local government. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Ibiang Mbasekei told Weekly Trust that they are on top of the situation as security agents have been dispatched to the point of arrest to beef-up security in case there are reprisal attacks from the Boko Haram sect.
According to the DSS, Sokoto was born on May 9 1983 to the family of Umaru Jabbi of Gagi village, Kokoto South local government area, Sokoto. Upon the death of his father, he was adopted by his paternal uncle, Abubakar Dikko and renamed after him. He completed his primary education at Model Primary School Gagi town in 1996. “Although he enrolled for secondary education at Ahmadu Bello Academy in 1996, he absconded shortly and re-applied for admission as fresh JSS 1student in Sultan Bello Secondary School, Sokoto South from where he eventually graduated in 2003,” she said. In 2005, he gained admission into the College of Nursing and Midwifery Sokoto. “At the school, Kabiru exhibited high level of truancy and extremist tendencies, a situation which accounted for his poor academic performance. In mid-2007, he absconded again from the institution when he refused to re-sit some papers he failed,” she added.