Three Female Boko Haram Intelligence Experts Arrested

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Friday, July 4th, 2014

The Defence Headquarters on Friday disclosed that soldiers have arrested three suspected female terrorists specialized in recruiting ladies into the female wing of Boko Haram.

This was contained in statement signed by Col. Onyema Nwachukwu for the Director of Defence Information and made available to Journalists in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said their arrest was an aftermath of a failed suicide bombing attempt on a military facility by a female terrorist, who blew herself up in Gombe in June.

The three suspects; Hafsat Bako, Zainab Idris and Aisha Abubakar were intercepted while traveling to Madagali in Adamawa to the forest to reunite with their cohorts.

The statement reads in part: “Investigations revealed that the suspects, led by Hafsat, have the mission to recruit members into the female wing of the terrorist group as well as conduct espionage for the group.

“Hafsat’s link with the terrorists group had been a subject of investigation since 2012 when security agents on a man-hunt for one Usman Bako, her husband, who was identified as a terrorist, stormed their residence in Jimeta. Bako later died in an encounter with troops in Sokoto where he had relocated to continue his terrorist activities and Hafsat continued with the terror group, specialising in surreptitious recruitment of members into their fold.

“The three female suspects were luring ladies, especially widows and young girls, by enticing them with male suitors who are mainly members of their terror group for marriage.

“Before their arrest, they were on a mission to take additional briefing from the leadership of the terror group.

“The trio have been operating together as members of the intelligence team of the group and their arrest has yielded information still being verified by security agencies.”

Nwachukwu added that the man-hunt for Bako resulted in the discovery of an AK- 47 rifle and two loaded magazines.