Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun has described the successful arrest of two wanted leaders of the terrorist group, Ansaru, as a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism.
Adeleke made the remark in a statement issued on Saturday in Osogbo by his spokesperson, Malam Olawale Rasheed.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, recently confirmed the arrest of the leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, commonly known as Ansaru.
Ribadu revealed the terrorists were captured in a “high-risk, intelligence-led, counter-terrorism operation” conducted between May and July.
The governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, NSA Ribadu, and the nation’s security chiefs for what he described as a proactive strategy in strengthening national security.
According to him, the arrest will further enhance the country’s capacity to protect citizens and safeguard its territorial integrity.
Adeleke noted that ongoing reforms of the military, intelligence agencies, police, and other paramilitary services under President Tinubu were yielding positive results.
He revealed that Osun was among the states where security and intelligence agencies uncovered Ansaru sleeper cells through joint operations.
The governor lauded the NSA, the Chief of Defence Staff, military service chiefs, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Inspector-General of Police, and the Commandant-General of the Civil Defence Corps for their role in the successful operation in the state.
“Osun is a beneficiary of the federal security reforms.
“I must commend the intelligence community for dismantling the terrorist sleeper cells across Osun.
“I visited the secret police and witnessed the great job they are doing to keep us safe.
“We praise the President, the NSA, and the entire security leadership on recent advances with the arrest of the Ansaru terrorist group leaders.
“Similar successes recorded on various counter-terrorism fronts deserve our commendation. We are safer with proactive security leadership,” he said.
