Chad forces arrest Boko Haram leader, hold 74 suspects in custody
Chad security forces have arrested Bahna Fanaye, a leader from jihadist group Boko Haram, and have detained 74 suspects. Fanaye coordinated the trafficking of weapons between Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad for the radical Islamic network, Chad's chief prosecutor said.
Chadian men ride their camels near Lake Chad, in Chad. Chad's chief prosecutor says that security forces have arrested one of the leaders of the Nigerian extremist group Boko Haram.
Jerome Delay/AP/File
N'DJAMENA, Chad
Chad's chief prosecutor says that security forces have arrested one of the leaders of the Nigerian extremist group Boko Haram.
Prosecutor Alhassim Khamis said in a statement Monday that Bahna Fanaye, whose alias is Mahamat Moustapha, was apprehended Sunday, along with two others. He said Fanaye coordinated the trafficking of weapons between Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad for the radical Islamic network.
Khamis said forces seized various weapons, communication materials, documents and more than 50 SIM cards from Fanaye's home. He said a man described as the financier of the group was also arrested in another operation.
Khamis says that security forces have now detained 74 suspects.
Chad has been a major military ally with Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram, which has publicly threatened the Chadian president with retaliation.