Boko Haram: Uncertainty over senator’s arrest

Unconfirmed reports yesterday indicated that the State Security Service (SSS), arrested a serving Senator, Ahmad Zanna Khalifa, alleged to be habouring and shielding members of the Boko Haram sect. Reports had it that a man suspected to be a commander of the dreaded sect was allegedly having a good time in the home of the Senator. Senator Khalifa, representing Borno Central Senatorial had since denied the allegation.

Speaking on Political Platform, a radio programme on Raypower FM, Abuja, yesterday, the embattled Senator although admitted that the alleged Boko Haram Commander was his distant cousin, he said that he never knew him to a member of the sect.

He, however, admitted that the suspect was a drug addict but that he had since distanced himself from him. Daily Sun also learnt that earlier yesterday, the Senator had addressed a press conference to debunk the allegations but shortly after, he was whisked away by SSS operatives at about 2pm.

As at 8pm yesterday, Khalifa was said be cooling his heels in detention at the SSS headquarters, Abuja. Some of his loyalists, in an effort to ensure his protection and quick release, raised the alarm that they learnt that the Senator would be released after answering the necessary questions. A source later confided in Daily Sun that they were worried that he was not going to be released as earlier promised.

Meanwhile, efforts to get the SSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, to confirm the arrest and detention of the Senator proved abortive as at press time, yesterday