The Nigerian Army yesterday paraded the suspected killers of Gen. Mohammed Shuwa (retd), a hero of the Nigerian Civil War.
Shuwa, who was the first General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, which he also commanded during the war, was shot dead at his residence in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital on November 2, 2012.
Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, yesterday said officials of the Military Intelligence arrested the suspects after tracking them down in Kano. They were being followed from Maiduguri.
Parading the suspects at the Brigade Headquarters in Kano, Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. Hamisu Hassan, said their arrest followed sustained intelligence operation.
The suspected Boko Haram kingpins were picked up in Hotoro Quarters of the Kano metropolis.
According to Gen. Hassan, Ali Mohammed (a.k.a Amir) 25, was a preacher for the late Mohammadu Yusuf sect in Baga (Borno State) and was reported to have led his followers to reinforce Boko Haram fighters during their battle with security agencies that led to the defeat of their leader, Mohammed Yusuf in 2009. He is described as a strong accomplice of the suspected killer of the late Gen. Shuwa.
The Brigade Commander told reporters that the two suspected Boko Haram members were arrested on April 30, 2016 and May 1, 2016 in Hotoro quarters by soldiers.
He said preliminary investigations revealed that Mohammed Sani Nafiu, 35, aided the terrorist, who killed the late Gen. Shuwa (rtd).
Items recovered from Ali Mohammed are: a black Volkswagen Golf car, with registration number, Delta-GWK 775 PP. ONE GSM phone and N20, 100 cash.
One GSM phone handset and N300 were recovered from Mohammed Sani Nafiu.
Gen. Hassan said the suspects are assisting the investigative team to ascertain their real status in the Boko Haram terrorist organisation.
“I want to use this medium to reiterate the stance of Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai, in ridding the Nigerian territory of Boko Haram terrorists.
” I am also warning the fleeing terrorists that the armed forces are not relenting in their efforts to crush them”.
In an interview with newsmen, one of the suspects, Nafiu, denied having a hand in the murder of late Gen. Shuwa, explaining that he was busy conducting his lawful business in the market when he heard news of the death of the war hero.
He, however, admitted to being a member of Boko Haram.
“When General Shuwa was killed, I was in the market conducting my business. I only heard about his death through a friend.
“Of course I am member of Boko Haram group. I am a disciple of late Mohammed Yusuf and I studied in his school for a very long time, but I did not lead our members to the scene where late Shuwa was killed”.
