Tension is high in Nigeria's commercial capital following the reported arrest of two suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Lagos. The State Security Service (SSS) apprehended the individuals on Sunday, December 21, 2025, in a development that has raised alarms about the terrorist group's geographical ambitions.
Details of the Lagos Arrests
According to a security source with direct knowledge of the operation, the suspects were identified as Modu Gana and Ibrahim Dugge. They were arrested in the Apapa area of Lagos State around 8:45 am on that Sunday and have since been detained for questioning. The source indicated that the suspects were reportedly fleeing the insurgency-ravaged northeast region of the country.
However, in a twist, the media unit of the secret police stated that the details of these arrests had not been formally brought to their attention. This response aligns with the agency's covert media policy, adopted after the redeployment of its former spokesperson, Peter Afunanya. The policy is intended to enhance the SSS's effectiveness in intelligence operations.
Unclear Mission and Expert Warnings
The specific objective of the suspected terrorists in Lagos remains unclear, and authorities have not indicated any imminent planned attack on the city. Despite this lack of immediate threat, security experts have consistently warned that ISWAP has been making concerted efforts to expand its operations beyond its traditional stronghold in Nigeria's Northeast.
This arrest in the nation's economic hub underscores the persistent and evolving nature of the terrorist threat in Nigeria. ISWAP, a faction that broke away from Boko Haram, has significantly increased its operational reach over the past decade, moving beyond Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
Broader Context of the Insurgency
The arrest occurs against a backdrop of continued violence and claims from the terrorist group. Recently, ISWAP claimed it had captured and killed a Nigerian Army Brigade Commander, M Uba, along the Damboa-Biu axis in Borno State—a claim the military has denied, stating the officer safely returned to base with his troops.
On a broader scale, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu disclosed in May 2025 that the counter-terrorism fight under President Bola Tinubu's administration had yielded significant results. Ribadu reported that 13,543 members of ISWAP and Boko Haram were killed, while a staggering 124,408 others surrendered within a two-year period.
The detention of two suspected ISWAP operatives in Lagos serves as a stark reminder that the threat of terrorism, while concentrated in the North, requires vigilant national security measures. It highlights the critical work of intelligence agencies like the SSS in preventing the spread of instability to other vital regions of Nigeria.
