The Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly arrested a key member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s security detail identified as Corporal Hassan Aminu for his alleged link to the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

Following high-level intelligence in Abuja, the suspect Corporal Hassan Aminu, a key member of the president’s security guard was arrested in suspicion of close ties with Boko Haram leaders. According to reports, he is suspected to have close ties with the leader of the Ansaru Islamic Sect, Khalid Albarnawi, who is second in command only to Abubakar Shekau (the leader of the sect) in the Boko Haram hierarchy. In May 2015, Albarnawi was captured in Kogi State following combined efforts from national security forces. The presidency is yet to confirm the reports but has completely overhauled the presidential security apparatus following the detention of Aminu.

A top security source on the condition of anonymity said, “God was just on our side. If he had killed the president what would we have told Nigerians, following the arrest, the NSA’s office along with other security chiefs have taken it as a point of duty to ensure that security agents serving in the presidential guard are documented in details to avoid any ugly situation,” The source disclosed this while speaking to the National Accord.

President Buhari pledged to defeat Boko Haraam, the terrosist group that claimed over 4,000 lives in the north of Nigeria in 2015 alone, during his successful presidential campaign. One year into his presidency, significant strides have been made with the strengthening of the multinational joint task force resulting in the seizure of 14 local governments from the terrorist group. This report comes as a shock in light of the progress made by the federal government and poses serious security concerns. Have the presidency and perhaps elements of national security already been compromised? Are there more undetected members of Boko Haram within the security forces and do they occupy even higher ranks?