More details have emerged on the escape of a prominent member of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, a story that was first exclusively reported by The Eagle Online on Monday evening.
Sources told The Eagle Online that the Presidency, through the National Security Adviser, General Owoeye Azazi, has told the police high command to produce the suspect or face dire consequences.
The suspect, Kabir Sokoto, escaped while being taken by the police to his house in Abaji area of the Federal Capital Territory for a search.
Sokoto was part of a team that carried out the Christmas Day bombing at the St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, in which about 50 people died.
The police claimed they were ambushed by some youths who were believed to be Boko Haram members and who ensured the escape of Sokoto.
Sokoto, was arrested at the Borno State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.
The officer in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police Headquarters, Abuja, Zakari Biu, a Commissioner of Police, has been ordered suspended by the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, over the issue.
Ringim, in a statement signed on his behalf by the Force Police Public Relations Officer, Olusola Amore, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, said: “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to confirm that a suspect was arrested in a successful Police operation and was rescued from a team of Policemen detailed to carry out further investigation in the matter.
“The suspect was handed over to a Commissioner of Police for further investigation and he consequently detailed his men to take the suspect to Abaji in furtherance of investigation.
“In the course of undertaking this important procedure, the Policemen on escorts with the suspect were attacked by the suspected sect gang members and in the process the suspect freed.
“The Police view this development as a serious negligence on the part of the Commissioner of Police and have since been queried and suspended him from duty
“If a criminal case is established against him and his team, they will be prosecuted.”
Meanwhile, the Borno State Government has denied harbouring Sokoto or any other member of the Boko Haram sect.
According to Secretary to the Borno State Government, Ambassador Baba Ahmad Jidda, Sokoto was sneaked into the Governor’s Lodge with a view to wreaking havoc on the property.
Jidda said it remained “untrue, misleading, callous and an attempt by detractors to turn the truth on its head and to try to score political points with a very serious matter of individual and state security.”