{{Nigerian security forces discovered a senior member of the militant Islamist group Boko Haram among a convoy of nearly 500 travellers arrested this week in the southern state of Abia, a military spokesman said on Wednesday.}}<\/p>\n
News of the arrest comes as militants are killing civilians almost daily, particularly in the largely Muslim north. At least 14 people were killed on Tuesday when a bomb tore through a venue in the northeast where fans had gathered to watch a World Cup match.<\/p>\n
The presence of a senior Boko Haram member in Nigeria’s south would stoke fears Islamist militants are pushing into regions well beyond their northern stronghold – including in the mainly Christian south.<\/p>\n
It would also raise concern the group, which drew worldwide attention in April when it kidnapped more than 200 girls from a school in northeast Nigeria, could eventually attempt attacks in the oil-rich Niger delta.<\/p>\n
Officials said on Monday that nearly 500 people believed to be northerners had been arrested overnight while travelling through the south in convoy of more than 30 vans.<\/p>\n
“The army is screening the 486 persons being held in Abia state,” defence spokesman General Chris Olukolade told Reporters on Wednesday. It had identified a “kingpin belonging to Boko Haram” among them, he said.<\/p>\n
The army did not release the suspect’s name or photograph.<\/p>\n
Some of those arrested had said they were headed for southern city of Port Harcourt to look for work, the government has said.<\/p>\n
reuters<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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