Nigeria arrests two Boko Haram suspects on 100 most-wanted list

The Nigerian army on Wednesday said security forces in the northeast region of the country have arrested two persons on a list of 100 most-wanted Boko Haram suspects.

According to a statement signed by army spokesman, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, the suspects, identified as Abubakar Sadiq and Mohammed Usman, were arrested in the restive Borno State. The two suspects were identified as those whose pictures were respectively displayed on number 28 and number 40 of the most-wanted Boko Haram suspects' list by the Nigerian army last month.

"There is no doubt that the arrests of the suspected terrorists are important milestones which show the synergy of effort in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria among the security agencies and the public," the army statement said, noting the second suspect, Usman, was arrested through the support of the Nigerian police.

Nigeria's army chief Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai commended the troops and the police for their great efforts and described the development as one that has put the terrorists on the verge of being defeated.

The arrests have brought to five the total number of suspects wanted by the Nigerian army. Local security agencies and the public have intensified search for the wanted following the release of the poster containing photographs of the 100 suspected Boko Haram members.

Among those on the list is the notorious leader of Boko Ha­ram, Abubakar Shekau. Most of the wanted are young men, with only three above age 29.

Militant group Boko Haram has since 2009 waged a campaign of violence in Nigeria in an effort to establish an Islamic state.

It has killed some 13,000 people and kidnapped hundreds, with surrounding countries such as Niger, Chad and Cameroon affected.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has given a December deadline for the army to end the Boko Haram insurgency. Endit