Residents of Lagos have been thrown into unease following the arrest of two suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the state.

The suspects, identified as Modu Gana and Ibrahim Dugge, were reportedly apprehended on Sunday, December 21, by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS).

A security source familiar with the operation revealed that the arrests took place in the Apapa area of Lagos around 8:45 a.m. Both men are currently in detention and undergoing questioning.

Investigations indicate that the arrests followed intelligence reports suggesting the suspects had moved from Nigeria’s conflict-affected North-east to Lagos.

Attempts to obtain official confirmation from the SSS were unsuccessful, with a spokesperson from the agency stating that the incident had not yet been formally communicated. Since the reassignment of its former spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, the SSS has maintained a low-profile media approach, citing operational security.

At the time of reporting, the reasons for the suspects’ presence in Lagos remain unclear, and there is no immediate evidence of any planned attacks in the commercial hub.

However, security experts have cautioned that ISWAP has been attempting to expand its operations beyond its traditional strongholds in the North-east.