Nigeria: Boko Haram member captured in senator’s home
A resident inspects a police patrol van that was bombed by Islamic extremists Boko Haram outside Sheka police station in northern Nigerian city of Kano on January 25, 2012.
Nigerian security forces said they captured a senior commander of the militant Islamist sect Boko Haram inside a senator's home.
The Nigeria Joint Task Force that conducted the operation would not identify the suspect on record, according to CNN.
"We are all afraid of the Boko Haram," said the anonymous source, "even we – security officials. People don't want us to say anything about Boko Haram for the fear that they will be killed."
However, on Sunday, the suspect's identity was reported.
Military spokesman Sagir Musa said Shuaibu Mohammed Bama was arrested in Maiduguri, a well-known Boko Haram area, according to Reuters.
"Shuaibu Mohammed Bama, who has been on the wanted list lists of terrorists … was arrested by the task force troops in a serving senator's house," he said.
Musa would not identify the senator; however, the Washington Post discovered, "the only senator who has a home in the area where Bama was arrested in is Sen. Ahmed Zanna, a member of the governing People’s Democratic Party in Nigeria’s National Assembly."
Last week Nigeria’s military killed 24 Boko Haram members in an attack in the city of Maiduguri.
Boko Haram, which means “Western education is sacrilege,” seeks to impose Shariah law on Nigeria's diverse citizenship.
Human Rights Watch says about 2,800 people have died in Boko Haram-related violence.
It's believed by US security officials that Boko Haram may be working with al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
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