In a significant breakthrough in the fight against terrorism, Chadian security forces have arrested Muslim Mohammed Yusuf, the 18-year-old son of Boko Haram’s late Founder Mohammed Yusuf. Yusuf was reportedly leading a six-man terrorist cell linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a splinter faction of Boko Haram.
The arrest was made during a coordinated operation by Chadian security operatives, who detained Yusuf and five other jihadists. According to sources, Yusuf’s cell was operating in the Lake Chad region, where Boko Haram has been waging a brutal insurgency for over 15 years.
Muslim Mohammed Yusuf, also known by his alias Abdrahman Mahamat Abdoulaye, is believed to have been born in Nigeria before the Boko Haram insurgency escalated in 2009. His father, Mohammed Yusuf, was captured by Nigerian forces and later killed in police custody in Maiduguri on July 30, 2009. Muslim is also the younger brother of ISWAP’s current leader, Habib Yusuf, alias Abu Mus’ab AI-Barnawi.
The arrest has been hailed as a major symbolic victory in the fight against insurgency in the region. Security analysts warn that the capture of such a high-profile figure could prompt retaliatory strikes, with regional forces remaining on high alerts. The US and UK governments have commended the Nigerian government and security forces on the successful arrest of wanted Ansaru leaders, describing it as a “significant step forward” in the fight against terrorism and extremism.
The suspects are expected to face prosecution after investigations. Chadian police spokesman Paul Manga confirmed the arrest of six suspected Boko Haram members but declined to provide further details on their identities. Nigerian intelligence sources and a former Boko Haram lieutenant have corroborated the arrest, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in combating terrorism.
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