Indications have emerged that one of the suspected Boko Haram members arrested in Kogi State around April this year is related to one of the presidential body guards.
Meanwhile a presidency source has confirmed that the allegations have sparked further background checks and minor reshuffle of security around the State House.
The source informed THISDAY at the weekend that contrary to some reports, none of the presidential body guards who are mostly from the Nigerian Army, including the one whose brother was apprehended, is a member of any terrorist organisation.
“Yes, a suspected Boko Haram member was arrested in Kogi State but he is not one of the BGs (Body Guards) in the villa,” the intelligence source said.
Reports had it that a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s security guard linked to the terror group Boko Haram was arrested.
According to the report, the suspected terrorist has strong links to the deputy leader of the Wilāyat Gharb Ifrīqīyyah terror group.
The report alleged that the suspect and Army Corporal named Hassan Aminu was arrested, forcing the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) to overhaul of the president’s security agents.
“Aminu is strongly linked to leaders of the Boko Haram cell and was nabbed before he could carry out any plot.
“He has serious ties with the leader of the Ansaru Islamic Sect, Khalid Albarnawi, second in command to Abubakar Shekau in the hierarchy of the dreaded Boko Haram Sect,” the report alleged.
However, this narrative was debunked by a senior officer within the presidency, saying that none of their officers was linked to Boko Haram.
The officer nevertheless, corroborated the disclosure by the presidency source that the man who was nabbed in Kogi State, had after thorough investigation “and in the course of interrogation confessed that he is related to one of the BGs.”
According to the source, most of the officers and people from the North-east might have one or two of their relatives as members of Boko Haram “but that does not make the concerned individuals a culprit.”
“Are you telling me that if your brother is a doctor that makes you a doctor. That is not the way to view these issues especially when its an open secret that these terrorists even kill their parents and siblings,” the officer noted.
Speaking further, the source disclosed that for precautionary measures, the concerned officer (whose relative is linked to the terrorist) has been withdrawn from the Presidential Body Guards and is currently facing further interrogation.
“He has been withdrawn from the BG and currently being investigated by the ONSA and State House Intelligence team,” the source noted.
