Nigeria's secret service has arrested the spokesman for Boko Haram who frequently made statements to the media after attacks by the radical Islamist group, according to security sources.
Abu Qaqa was held in the northern city of Kaduna in the early hours of the morning, the State Security Services (SSS) source told the Reuters news agency on Wednesday.
"We are still taking to him. Since 'Abu Qaqa' is a pseudonym for the Boko Haram spokesman, we want to be sure of who we have with us. But we have been on his trail for months now. He's been changing locations and contacts," the source said.
Ahmed Abdullahi, the Borno state director of the SSS, told the Associated Press on Wednesday night that they had arrested found the man by tracking his mobile-phone signal.
Abdullahi says the man was a Nigerian citizen, but declined to name him and that he served as a go-between for journalists and Boko Haram.
The news of the arrest comes as violence blamed on the group continues unstopped in Nigeria. At least 185 people died in a co-ordinated attack January 20 by the sect in the northern city of Kano.
Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege, reporting from Abuja, says that while the arrest has been welcomed, questions are being raised about how credible and important his capture is.
"Abu Qaqa has been known to have given statements to journalists about the group’s aims and ambitions but the SSS will most likely interrogate him to gain intelligence that may lead to the apprehension of other Boko Haram members," our correspondent said.
"Having said that, there have been stories that there is a split in the group and that places questions about where he fits in in those factions
"There is no doubt today’s arrest will go a long way in restoring public confidence in President Goodluck Jonathan’s government who have been under tremendous pressure to bring the group to book
Abu Qaqa was held in the northern city of Kaduna in the early hours of the morning, the State Security Services (SSS) source told the Reuters news agency on Wednesday.
"We are still taking to him. Since 'Abu Qaqa' is a pseudonym for the Boko Haram spokesman, we want to be sure of who we have with us. But we have been on his trail for months now. He's been changing locations and contacts," the source said.
Ahmed Abdullahi, the Borno state director of the SSS, told the Associated Press on Wednesday night that they had arrested found the man by tracking his mobile-phone signal.
Abdullahi says the man was a Nigerian citizen, but declined to name him and that he served as a go-between for journalists and Boko Haram.
The news of the arrest comes as violence blamed on the group continues unstopped in Nigeria. At least 185 people died in a co-ordinated attack January 20 by the sect in the northern city of Kano.
Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege, reporting from Abuja, says that while the arrest has been welcomed, questions are being raised about how credible and important his capture is.
"Abu Qaqa has been known to have given statements to journalists about the group’s aims and ambitions but the SSS will most likely interrogate him to gain intelligence that may lead to the apprehension of other Boko Haram members," our correspondent said.
"Having said that, there have been stories that there is a split in the group and that places questions about where he fits in in those factions
"There is no doubt today’s arrest will go a long way in restoring public confidence in President Goodluck Jonathan’s government who have been under tremendous pressure to bring the group to book
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