JUST IN: IS Leader in charge of West Africa arrested in Kano

• The Department of State Service said it arrested Husseini Mai-Tangaran, a commander of the Islamic State for West Africa, in Kano

• states and the Federal Capital Territory

• The alleged terrorist is said to be an expert in improvised explosive devices

The Department of State Service (DSS) has announced it arrested a top commander of the Islamic State for West Africa, giving his name as Husseini Mai-Tangaran.

The DSS said his arrest saved the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kano, Kaduna, Niger, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno states from being bombed between September 1 and 4 when Muslims in the country celebrated the Eid-el-Fitri

Mai-Tangaran, according to the DSS, was arrested on August 31, while other members including Abdulkadir Umar Mohammed and Muhammad Ali were picked in Kano on September 3.

“This service wish to inform the general public that it has uncovered and foiled sinister plans by Islamic State of West Africa (ISWA) terrorists to cause mayhem and destruction that would have disrupted the Eid-Kabir Sallah festivities of 1st – 4th September, 2017.

“The plan was to conduct gun attacks and suic*de bombing on selected targets in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Niger, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno states,” a statement by Tony Opuiyo, DSS spokesperson, said.

The DSS added: “The mastermind of the operation is Husseini MAI-TANGARAN, a well-known senior ISWA commander who has been on the service and Nigeria Army radar since 2012, when he spearheaded the armed attacks on the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone I, on 20th January, 2012, as well as other public places in Kano.

“MAI-TANGARAN was also responsible for the deadly explosive attacks against worshippers at the Kano Central Mosque as well as an attack on a military formation in Yobe State in 2015, which claimed hundreds of lives.”

The statement said under the banner of the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) which he belongs, Mai-Tangaran had been preparing some members to carry out attacks on some areas of the country.

DSS described the alleged terrorist as an expert in the manufacturing of improvised explosive devices.

“He was arrested in Kano, on 31st August, 2017, and further exploitation, led to the arrest of one Abdulkadir Umar MOHAMMED by the Service on 2nd September, 2017, at Kantin Kwari Market in Fagge LGA, Kano.

“MOHAMMED was a fighter of the sect who left the conclave of the group in the Sambisa forest, to join ranks with ISMAILA towards carrying out the attacks being planned by the group,” the statement added.