Top Niger Delta militant, notorious kidnappers, deadly terrorists arrested by Police

Nigeria’s secret police, the State Security Service(SSS), on Saturday said it arrested high-value suspects in militancy, terrorism and kidnapping during a nationwide sweep carried out between July 17 and 22.

Some of the biggest arrests included that of Jones Abiri, a Niger-Delta gang leader who allegedly circulated a hoax about an impending overthrow of President Muhammadu Buhari in June.

In the June 22 ruse, Mr. Abiri’s separatist movement, Joint Revolutionary Council of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, said it had uncovered an imminent plot by the Nigerian military establishment to overthrow Mr. Buhari.

Mr. Abiri, also known as General Akotebe Darikoko, also allegedly led a string of attacks on oil facilities and demanded ransom from oil corporations, the SSS said.

Also nabbed, according to the Service, was Abiodun Christopher, also known as Maiyegun, who was said to have masterminded the abduction of two Catholic sisters in Ondo State in May.

The nuns were reportedly rescued seven days after they were seized.