Two Suspected ISWAP Terrorists Arrested in Lagos

Security operatives have apprehended two men in Lagos State suspected to be fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), raising fresh concerns about the activities of the militant group beyond its traditional strongholds in the North-East. The arrests took place on Sunday, December 21, 2025, in the Apapa area of Lagos after information from intelligence sources pointed to the suspects’ presence in the commercial capital. The suspects, named Modu Gana and Ibrahim Dugge, were taken into custody by operatives of the Department of State Services and are currently being interrogated.

According to security sources, the suspects were detained at about 8:45 a.m. on Sunday as part of an intelligence-led operation that followed reports they had fled the insurgency-ravaged North-East and relocated to Lagos. Investigators are working to establish the extent of their movements and possible contacts within the state, though there are no confirmed indications that an imminent attack in Lagos was planned by the suspects at the time of their arrest.

Officials from the DSS have not formally commented on the operation, but security analysts say the arrests reflect ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to monitor and contain the threat posed by ISWAP long after the insurgency began in the North-East over a decade ago. If confirmed as members of the militant group, the arrests could indicate attempts by ISWAP fighters to disperse into other regions of Nigeria, a development that security experts say must be watched closely.

The incident has sparked debate about terrorism containment and intelligence-sharing in Nigeria’s largest city. What measures do you think should be intensified to prevent insurgent cells from expanding into urban centres like Lagos? Comment below and share your thoughts.

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