Dreaded sect, Boko Haram, has denied that its spokesperson, Abu Qaqa, has been arrested by the Department of State Security Service.
The denial came on the heels of several media reports that Qaqa was arrested by the SSS on Wednesday.
While some said he was arrested in Kaduna, other reports put the place of his arrest as Maiduguri in Borno State.
Qaqa himself, who spoke on the issue, said: “The person that was arrested was Abu Dardaa and not Abu-Qaqa.
“I am Abul Qaqa, the spokesman for the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnati Lidda’awati Wal Jihad.
“Abu Dardaa is the head of the Lagina (Department) of Public Enlightenment and not the spokesman.
“The arrest of Abu Dardaa is an outright deception and betrayal by the Nigerian government and security agents.
“They proclaimed dialogue and are doing the opposite.
“His arrest has proved to us that they were waiting for us to avail ourselves so that they can arrest us.
“We purposely sent Abu Dardaa to Kaduna to discuss with some key government functionaries on the issue of dialogue.
“Indeed, he had started talking to them but unknown to him, they (had) directed some security agents to trail him and arrest him.
“This is exactly what happened.
“He volunteered to present himself for the dialogue but was betrayed.
“Everybody knows our capability and tactics of operation.
“It is evidently clear that none of our members could be caught on a platter of gold and without confrontation.
“We initially thought that the much talked about dialogue was true and we actually resolved that after the initial meeting with Dardaa, we would send five representatives to stand for us.
“Part of what we told him to discuss with the government representatives was the unconditional release of our members as pre-condition for any further discussion.
“I want to reiterate that we want all our members to be released for peace to return and for dialogue to hold.”
In a related development, a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has denied a suspected Boko Haram sponsor and a former National Treasurer of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association, Alhaji Nuhu Marafa, and his son, Musa, bail in the ongoing trial of father and son.
Both men were arrested on January 14, 2012 by men and officers of the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, after a heavy shootout in their home.
Marafa, in whose home was found arms, ammunition and military uniforms, had approached the Federal High Court seeking for bail for himself and his son, both of whom had been held in the barracks of the 1 Division since their arrest.
But Justice Lucia Ojukwu turned down the application on the ground that even the motion on notice for the case was yet to be heard.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
