How Social Media Was Used To Expose Boko Haram Suspects Who Sneaked Into Kano

It was an anxious weekend in Hotoro North, Nassarawa Local
Government Area, Kano State, over a military operation leading to
arrests of some residents of Filin Lazio area, over allegations of
connection with Boko Haram insurgents, According to Daily trust report.^[1]

The military operation, held Saturday night, targeted a house
newly moved-in by occupants said to be originally from Borno State.
An official statement on Sunday confirmed the arrest of 13 suspects
during the raid.

Hotoro was previously an epicentre for insurgents’ activities in
the state, before the terrorists were flushed out by concerted
efforts of security forces and residents.

Members of Boko Haram sleeper cells in the area typically
attacked security men and churchgoers in drive-by attacks between
2011 and 2013, when they were largely decimated.

The weekend raid, according to a resident of the area, Malam
Muhammed Amadi was conducted without drawing much attention.

He explained that the army arrived at the suspect’s residence
around 9:15 pm where they surrounded the residence and whisked away
some members of the household.

He added that those arrested didn’t resist the arrest and as
such not a single gun was fired during the raid.

A source in the area told Daily Trust that the suspected
residence has been a centre of concern to many residents as it has
become a joint for a lot of migrants from the North-East,
especially Borno State, who have gradually flooded the area
recently.

“The flamboyant lifestyle of the people and their peculiarity
has raised serious concerns among residents and I believe the
arrest made was an outcome of these raised concerns.

“I have heard stories that the suspects were arrested in a
mosque, this is just a speculation as they were arrested in a
house, not in a mosque,” the source revealed.

Unease among residents

Daily Trust investigations revealed that there was a silent
campaign on social media platforms intimating the general public on
the influx of people from North-East and how they have been
acquiring and building houses in some areas along the Eastern
Bye-pass, Mariri, Danladi Na Sidi among other areas.

It was also revealed that this silent campaign awakened many
them to be on the alert of the activities of these people.

According to Malam Sule Wakili, the eastern bye-pass was heavily
inhabited by people from the north east who have now settled in
Kano.

He explained that for about two years, people from the Maiduguri
axis have been acquiring and building houses in the areas. This he
said has raised a lot of concern even though they legally obtain
the land to erect their houses.

Similarly, the silent campaign against the massive exodus of
Maiduguri people and their concentration at a particular axis has
made residents to be very vigilant on their activities as well as
their movement.

Aliyu Garba Hakimi is a resident of the area and according to
him, he had received the warning signal on various platforms on
social media.

According to him, he was not aware of what has triggered the
campaign until he noticed the strange presence of many people from
Borno around the area.

“Though they are never hostile to anyone but their reserved
nature and their introverted attitudes became a source of concern
to many of us. Indeed the campaign that was started by an anonymous
individual got the attention of many people and as such people
became very vigilant,” he said.

It was an anxious weekend in Hotoro North, Nassarawa Local
Government Area, Kano State, over a military operation leading to
arrests of some residents of Filin Lazio area, over allegations of
connection with Boko Haram insurgents, According to Daily trust report.^[1]

The military operation, held Saturday night, targeted a house
newly moved-in by occupants said to be originally from Borno State.
An official statement on Sunday confirmed the arrest of 13 suspects
during the raid.

Hotoro was previously an epicentre for insurgents’ activities in
the state, before the terrorists were flushed out by concerted
efforts of security forces and residents.

Members of Boko Haram sleeper cells in the area typically
attacked security men and churchgoers in drive-by attacks between
2011 and 2013, when they were largely decimated.

The weekend raid, according to a resident of the area, Malam
Muhammed Amadi was conducted without drawing much attention.

He explained that the army arrived at the suspect’s residence
around 9:15 pm where they surrounded the residence and whisked away
some members of the household.

He added that those arrested didn’t resist the arrest and as
such not a single gun was fired during the raid.

A source in the area told Daily Trust that the suspected
residence has been a centre of concern to many residents as it has
become a joint for a lot of migrants from the North-East,
especially Borno State, who have gradually flooded the area
recently.

“The flamboyant lifestyle of the people and their peculiarity
has raised serious concerns among residents and I believe the
arrest made was an outcome of these raised concerns.

“I have heard stories that the suspects were arrested in a
mosque, this is just a speculation as they were arrested in a
house, not in a mosque,” the source revealed.

Unease among residents

Daily Trust investigations revealed that there was a silent
campaign on social media platforms intimating the general public on
the influx of people from North-East and how they have been
acquiring and building houses in some areas along the Eastern
Bye-pass, Mariri, Danladi Na Sidi among other areas.

It was also revealed that this silent campaign awakened many
them to be on the alert of the activities of these people.

According to Malam Sule Wakili, the eastern bye-pass was heavily
inhabited by people from the north east who have now settled in
Kano.

He explained that for about two years, people from the Maiduguri
axis have been acquiring and building houses in the areas. This he
said has raised a lot of concern even though they legally obtain
the land to erect their houses.

Similarly, the silent campaign against the massive exodus of
Maiduguri people and their concentration at a particular axis has
made residents to be very vigilant on their activities as well as
their movement.

Aliyu Garba Hakimi is a resident of the area and according to
him, he had received the warning signal on various platforms on
social media.

According to him, he was not aware of what has triggered the
campaign until he noticed the strange presence of many people from
Borno around the area.

“Though they are never hostile to anyone but their reserved
nature and their introverted attitudes became a source of concern
to many of us. Indeed the campaign that was started by an anonymous
individual got the attention of many people and as such people
became very vigilant,” he said.