Fear and anxiety have heightened in parts of Lagos following the arrest of two men suspected to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS).
Security sources reveal that the suspects, identified as Modu Gana and Ibrahim Dugge, were arrested on Sunday, December 21, during an intelligence-led operation in the Apapa area of the state at about 8:45 a.m.
According to the source, both suspects are currently in SSS custody, where they are undergoing interrogation as part of ongoing investigations. Preliminary findings suggest that the men recently relocated from Nigeria’s conflict-ravaged North-east to Lagos, prompting heightened security interest.
Attempts to obtain official confirmation from the SSS were unsuccessful. A source within the agency’s media unit said the development had not yet been formally communicated. The agency has largely maintained silence on operational matters since the redeployment of its former spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, a move it has attributed to operational considerations.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities have not disclosed the purpose of the suspects’ presence in Lagos, and there is no immediate indication that they were planning an attack in the commercial capital.
However, security analysts have warned that ISWAP has, in recent years, shown signs of expanding its operations beyond its traditional strongholds in the North-east, raising concerns about possible infiltration of major urban centres.
The arrests have nonetheless unsettled residents, particularly in Apapa and surrounding areas, amid calls for increased vigilance and enhanced security measures.