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Boko Haram Scion Nabbed: Founder's Son Arrested in Chad, Photo Surfaces

Published 1 week ago2 minute read
Pelumi Ilesanmi
Pelumi Ilesanmi
Boko Haram Scion Nabbed: Founder's Son Arrested in Chad, Photo Surfaces

The arrest of the 18-year-old son of late Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, has been confirmed in Chad, marking a significant development in regional counter-terrorism efforts. Muslim Mohammed Yusuf, who reportedly uses the alias Abdrahman Mahamat Abdoulaye, was captured alongside five other suspected jihadists during a security operation conducted by Chadian forces. Intelligence and security sources, including counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, have obtained exclusive photos and confirmed the detention.

Sources indicate that Yusuf was leading the six-man cell, which is linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a prominent splinter faction of Boko Haram that emerged from ideological divisions. Photos seen by various sources depict a young, short, and slender man in a blue tracksuit, bearing a striking resemblance to his late father, standing among considerably older suspects. This resemblance further substantiates his identity as the son of the radical preacher.

Further intelligence reveals that Muslim Mohammed Yusuf is the younger brother of the current ISWAP leader, Habib Yusuf, also known as Abu Mus’ab Al-Barnawi. Born in Nigeria before the full escalation of the Boko Haram insurgency in 2009, the younger Yusuf is believed to have been groomed into militancy and had recently emerged as a field commander within ISWAP’s extensive Lake Chad network. Chadian police spokesperson Paul Manga confirmed the arrest of six individuals described as "bandits who operate in the city" and "members of Boko Haram," though declining to specify identities or the exact timeline, only stating the arrests occurred "a few months ago."

The jihadist group, Boko Haram, founded by Mohammed Yusuf, has terrorized the Lake Chad region for nearly 15 years, carrying out relentless attacks on villages and military bases. Mohammed Yusuf himself was captured by the Nigerian military and subsequently executed in police custody in Maiduguri on July 30, 2009. The arrest of his son, especially one actively involved as a field commander, is being widely regarded as a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against terrorism across the Lake Chad Basin.

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