SSS parades lecturer, four others for terrorism

The State Security Service on Wednesday in Abuja paraded a lecturer, Mohammed Yunus,  for operating a Boko Haram terror cell in the state.

Yunus, an assistant lecturer in Arabic and Islamic studies at the Kogi State University, Ayingba, operated a well-equipped terror cell had well trained instructors, armourer, head of operations, chief courier and foot soldiers, among others. The cell planned to launch attacks in the state and impose sharia law on citizens.

Yunus holds a Masters degree from the University of Jos and a Ph.D in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the Kogi State University in 2012

The SSS Deputy Director, Media and Public Relations, Marylyn Ogar, said the suspect had held several preaching sessions every last Saturday and Sunday of the month at Ethnosho Secondary School, Ojiolo, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State where he had about 80 followers.

She gave the names of other members of the terror group to include Umar, head of operations/instructor; Mustapha (aka Habib), armourer/Chief courier; Ismaila, a foot soldier and Ibrahim (aka one in town), who is also a foot soldier.

Ogar, further revealed that Yunus held another session every Friday at the Kogi State University mosque, Ayingba, where he had about 120 followers, adding that Yunus maintained extensive links with Boko Haram cells in Borno State where he referred some of his followers to for more training.

"In March 2013, he facilitated the trip of two of his adherents to Boko Haram's Sambisa Camp in Maiduguri, Bornu State where they received training in weapon handling. They are Mustapha Yusuf and Ismaila Abdulazeez who are now under arrest. They were able to escape and returned back to him in August 2013, following the military invasion of the camp," she said.

One of the suspects, Isah told newsmen that he was in company of Umar and Badulazeez on their way to Maiduguri, Borno State  for training when they were arrested at a mosque in Zuba, near Abuja.

Yunus denied being a Boko Haram member when questioned by journalists, but his claim was punctured by Yusuf, Abdulazeez  and Isah who insisted that he had been teaching them about Jihad and how to exploit it to instal Sharia in Kogi State.

"I don't have any link with Boko Haram, in fact I preached against them, that is why they have set me up. You can go to Jos and ask for my tapes, I preached against them. Islam doesn't support blood-shedding and I don't support it too," he said.

Culled from The Sun