Chad arrests local Boko Haram leader in N'Djamena

One of the key Boko Haram leaders, Baana Fanay alias Mahamat Moustapha, who has been coordinating trafficking of weapons between Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad was arrested on Sunday in N'Djamena, the Chadian capital, the country's Public Prosecutor Alghassim Khamis said Monday.

"The security forces arrested him after a fierce resistance," Khamis said, adding that "Baana Fanay who was arrested with two other terrorists, was responsible for the purchase of weapons and recruitment of fighters for Nigeria's islamist sect Boko Haram."

A search in his house led to the seizure of different weapons and documents written in Arabic by Boko Haram leader Aboubakar Shekau targeting the sect's recruits.

Baana Fanay's arrest led investigators to discover the location of seven other terrorists hiding in a house in Diguel Dinguessou suburb on the periphery of N'Djamena.

When the police broke into the suspects' house, five of the terrorists blew themselves up, killing themselves and one of their colleague as well as five police officers, an official source said on the same day.

"A local factory for manufacturing explosive devices and other types of weapons was discovered," the source added.

"A man believed to be the financier of the group was arrested and he is currently under investigations. The outcome of his questioning will certainly help investigators to dismantle the whole system put in place by this sect in our capital," the public prosecutor reiterated.

Since the simultaneous attacks that killed 38 people and injured 100 others in N'Djamena on June 15, Chadian security forces have arrested 74 people suspected of involvement in the attacks, Khamis concluded. Endi