The State Security Service in Kano State has arrested five persons allegedly connected to the creation of sleeper ISIS training cells in the state.
The suspects were arrested on their way to Libya and other African countries.
The state director of SSS, Abdullahi Chiranchi, told journalists on Thursday that the arrest was a significant breakthrough in blocking every possible move to make Kano a training ground for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, ISIS.
He said those arrested were from Kogi State and were moving to Libya, Morocco and other places with ISIS presence.
He did not however disclose their names.
Mr. Chiranchi also said a nine-man international cattle rustling, armed robbery, kidnapping and car-snatching gang was arrested.
He said the gang had been terrorising Kano, Kaduna and residents of Niger Republic.
According to him, those who arrested include some persons who broke into the house of a former National Security Adviser, Mukthar Mohammed, a retired air vice marshal.
The SSS director explained that a Nigerian, Suleiman Mohammad, who was one of those arrested, was allegedly supplying arms to his gang from Niger Republic.
Mr. Chiranchi disclosed that two out of the four specially-made pistols recovered from the gang belonged to Nigerien security officials.
He also said a man, Kabiru Hamisu, who is allegedly an messenger at Sheik Isiyaku Rabiu House and who was accused of providing information about Mr. Rabiu’s, was arrested.
Mr. Hamisu was also alleged to be leading a gang of armed robbers which broke into Abdusamad Rabiu office and made away with cash meant for Zakkat.
Officials of the United States government were reported Thursday as saying there was no clear evidence to show that the Nigerian terror group, Boko Haram, has major link with ISIS, saying Boko Haram was merely using its avowed allegiance to ISIS for branding.
