Some of the 45 suspected Boko Haram members arrested in Lagos and charged to court last week Friday by officials of the Department of the State Security Services (DSS) have been remanded at the ‘condemned cells’ of the Kirikiri Maximum Prison. According to the charge filed before the court, the accused includes Abuyi Sheriff, Babagana Ali, Abass Ibrahim, Abubaka Grema, Kabiri Ibrahim, Mustaph Mohammed, Usman Mohammed, Modu Amsami, Isa Agafi, Adamu Jebili and Saja Kamba.
Others were Abba Sagoma, Mallam Buchu, Abdul-Kareem Abba, Babagana Koloye, Usman Buka, Adamu Mohammed, Lawal Mohammed, Tela Abana, Mustapha Mohammed, Isa Agafi, Belo Modu, Kachala Babagana, Modu Abu, and Alhaji Modu Mustapha.
The accused were arraigned last week Friday at a magistrate’s court in Isolo area of Lagos by the DSS following an intelligence report on their planned attacked on Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos. The attack was foiled by operatives of the DSS and arms were recovered from them.
It was learnt that the accused were grouped as ‘classified inmates,’ hence, some of them were moved to the ‘condemned cells’ “because they are dangerous.” Condemned cells are usually reserved for inmates who had gone through trials, convicted and are waiting to be executed or hanged.
It was gathered that at present, no fewer than 32 members of the sect are in ‘condemned cells’ with one of them critically ill. “One of them is seriously sick. He is acting like he may die. Whether he’s faking dying or not, we don’t know,” said a source. There are also speculations that some of them may be flown out of Lagos with a helicopter and transferred to Kuje Prison, Abuja before the week runs out.
According to a source, security has been beefed up, beginning from the main gate. A military helicopter is also said to be on standby on the Kirikiri premises in case of any eventuality. A source said: “Coming through the Navy axis of Kirikiri is no longer business as usual. The Naval boys always subject people to a thorough search.
They don’t care whether they know you or not. They search bags and cars. “You wouldn’t know that there are security agents around if you’re a stranger to that vicinity. The soldiers, mobile policemen and dogs are in the bushes around the prison. There are discussions that some of the sect members may be moved to Kuje Prison; this is just to disorganise and unsettle them in case they want to foment trouble.
“We heard that DSS charged 45 members to court, but what we have right now in the Maximum prison is not up to that number. They are just 32. Right now, they are all in Condemned cells. Some are in the bungalow and some upstairs.” Although a source said the planned relocation of the sect members was at the behest of the Lagos State Government, a government source said it was not true.
“That is purely security matter and that should be between the police and the DSS who arrested and arraigned them. To the best of my knowledge, the state government did not make such request,” the source said. Meanwhile, when one of our correspondents visited Kirikiri yesterday, there was no indication that prison housed the accused.
Most of the residents our correspondent spoke to didn’t even know about it or perhaps pretended to be in the dark. Considering the sensitivity of the issue on ground and the fear of the Barracks boys, the few who spoke preferred to be anonymous. A man selling electrical appliances opposite the entrance of the prison obviously became apprehensive when our correspondent approached him on the issue. According him, his business is to sell and not to pay attention to what was going on in the prison. “I don’t have anything to say; if you want to know anything I can direct you to the soldiers over there.
They are in best position to react to the issue. You should not come here to ask me such questions again,” he reacted angrily. According to an operator of Keke Napep (tricyclist) and with whom our correspondent drove there was nothing to be afraid of. “We are in Lagos and we all know that Boko Haram doesn’t have the mind to come to Lagos; they know where they go.
“The truth is that what goes on inside the prison we don’t really know and we don’t bother to know. The prison is completely a different world on its own. So, we don’t have any business with Boko Haram; we are used to seeing different people charged with different crimes. If that was to be the case, most people here would have relocated. Boko Haram or not, business must move on.
You will be surprised that many people here don’t even know that people like that are inside the prison. As for me, I am not disturbed. We’ve not even recorded any bomb blast in Lagos, so why should we be afraid?” he asked. A commercial motorcycle rider, who identified himself simply as John, said he was only told they moved some Boko Haram members to the prison.
“I didn’t see them with my eyes. Most of us are just concerned with feeding ourselves and family members. We know where the Boko Haram people are operating; they are bombing the northern states. Lagos is a no go area for them and they are also afraid of being arrested.” Mama Uche, who sells foodstuffs in the neighbourhood also said she’s not aware of such development, insisting, “even if I know, I cannot do anything about it.”
She said; “The people at the top make decision and if they decided to bring Boko Haram people to Kirikiri we cannot do anything about that. We don’t have any power or say in this kind of matter; we are just market women selling our things and looking for money. We should just pray that nothing bad happens to any of us.
We are only looking for what to eat; we should not see what will eat us.” She said living in Kirikiri is peaceful, stating that what goes on in the prison is different from what transpires outside. “I enjoy staying and doing my business here. Armed robbers don’t disturb us unlike other places in Lagos where people sleep with their eyes open. I cannot remember the last time I heard of armed robbery or experienced it. We have enough security; policemen are everywhere.”
