Abu Sayyaf bomber’s wife nabbed

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Authorities arrested the wife of an alleged bomb expert of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group following a police operation in Jolo on Saturday.

Fatima Nasser Anilhusra, 28, was collared by a team of police officers out to serve a warrant against her husband Mudzrimar Sawadjaan, alias Mundi, according to Brig. Gen. Eden Ugale, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region police director.

The team reportedly recovered bomb paraphernalia, phones and identification cards under the name of Elaida Jumdail from Anilhusra in Sitio Badjao Annex, Barangay Bus-bus.

Sawadjaan managed to escape after sensing the arrival of the police officers.

He was tagged in the August 2020 suicide bombing in downtown Jolo that killed 14 Army troopers and injured 75 others.

Anilhusra will be charged with illegal possession of explosives, police said. She was detained at the Jolo police station.