No fewer than 65 Boko Haram suspects were arrested in Kaduna on Wednesday and Thursday when soldiers from the Nigerian Army raided the area.

33 of the suspects were arrested on Wednesday at the Barnawa Complex of the city while 32 others were picked up on Thursday in different parts of Kaduna metropolis.

A local newspaper learnt that 19 Nigeriens, a vendor and a fried meat (suya) seller were amongst those arrested.

However, residents have faulted the arrest, claiming the people arrested are not Boko Haram members.
A petty trader, Babangida, said “The soldiers just came to our area without any excuse… started molesting people who were doing their lawful business and others who come here regularly to buy Suya and other foods.”

Also,the District Head (Hakimi) of Barnawa, Kaduna, Alhaji Kabiru Zubairu, decried the claim of the soldiers,saying “I am telling you categorically that my people are law abiding citizens and I can vouch for them that they are innocent of the allegations levelled against them.”

The suspects are currently being detained in separate guardrooms in a military facility in Kaduna, for interrogation to establish which of them are Boko Haram members.