LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigeria's army says soldiers have arrested 42 suspected Islamic extremists in the southwest states of Lagos and neighboring Ogun.
Maj. Gen. Obi Umahi told reporters Tuesday that some of those detained already have admitted to belonging to the Boko Haram terrorist network. Some said they had fled from strongholds in the northeast of the country that are under a state of emergency and massive military operations.
Boko Haram — the name means "Western education is forbidden" — wants Islamic Shariah law in Nigeria. It has not attacked targets in the southwest of the country that includes Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos.
Umahi said suspects were arrested in Lagos on upscale Victoria Island's Bar Beach and in the Lekki neighborhood.
He said the arrests were made between July 12 and 23.
