Army arrests leader of Boko Haram breakout group

April 4, 2016 9:56 AM

In 2012 the U.S. State Department named Ansaru leader Khalid al-Barnawi one of three Nigerian militants blacklisted for ties to Boko Haram and al-Qaeda's north African wing.

Nigerian military officers

Nigeria's army said on Monday it had arrested the leader of Islamist militant group Ansaru, a splinter faction of Boko Haram that has been accused of kidnapping and killing Westerners.

In 2012 the U.S. State Department named Ansaru leader Khalid al-Barnawi one of three Nigerian militants blacklisted for ties to Boko Haram and al-Qaeda's north African wing.

The confirmation was given by Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar.

“We have confirmed as the one being arrested. We are sorting it out and looking for full details. The moment we finished our investigation we will inform the members of the public,” Abubakar told ThisDay.

His arrest had earlier been announced by Ahmad Salkida, a journalist, with ties to Boko Haram.

According to Salkida, Albarnawi was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Lokoja, Kogi State and moved to Abuja.