Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), in collaboration with Operation Desert Sanity V, have intensified counter-terrorism and counter-criminal operations across the North-East, recording significant breakthroughs.
These include the arrest of suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP logistics suppliers, a dismissed soldier, and other collaborators, as well as the disruption of insurgent supply chains and recovery of weapons and ammunition.
One of the arrests was made during a major intelligence-led operation in Borno State, where troops apprehended a 40-year-old suspected Boko Haram logistics supplier, identified as Girema Aliko, at Benisheikh Market during a surveillance mission aimed at dismantling terrorist support networks.
He was intercepted while allegedly transporting 30 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), believed to be destined for insurgent elements.
The suspect was said to have admitted to supplying fuel and other essential logistics to terrorist groups operating in the region.
In a separate operation, personnel of the 7 Division Provost Group arrested another suspected logistics supplier and informant, Mohammed Bulama (25), at Ngawom in the Muna Garage area of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.
Preliminary investigations indicate his suspected links to terrorist elements, and he is currently in custody, assisting security agencies with intelligence that may support further ongoing operations.
In another development, security forces arrested an absconded soldier, Private Umar Bema of the 50 Task Force Battalion, who allegedly deserted his unit with his service rifle.
He was later tracked and arrested within Maiduguri. Preliminary findings suggest he may have engaged in criminal activities, including armed robbery, during his absence from duty.
His rifle and magazines have been recovered, while disciplinary and investigative procedures are ongoing in line with military regulations.
Earlier operations in Biu Local Government Area also resulted in the arrest of a suspected kidnapper and member of a criminal syndicate.
The suspect reportedly confessed to involvement in kidnapping, cattle rustling, and other violent crimes across several locations, while also revealing operational links between criminal networks and terrorist groups, particularly through the circulation of weapons previously recovered from neutralised insurgents.
Similarly, troops operating along the Gubio axis intercepted another suspected logistics supplier while transporting large quantities of food items allegedly intended for Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters, further tightening pressure on insurgent supply chains and degrading their sustainment capabilities.
In Adamawa State, troops in collaboration with local hunters arrested two suspected ISWAP members who allegedly admitted involvement in attacks and abductions across parts of Borno and Adamawa States.
In a related development, sustained military pressure also led to the voluntary surrender of a fleeing Boko Haram/ISWAP fighter in the Kukawa axis, who turned himself in alongside two children, as part of ongoing disarmament and deradicalisation efforts.
Operational gains were further recorded in Damboa, where troops uncovered abandoned terrorist enclaves during clearance operations.
Items recovered from the locations included rocket-propelled grenade bombs and PKT ammunition, further degrading the operational capability of insurgent groups in the area.
In a statement on Thursday, the Theatre Media Information Officer, Sani Uba, the joint operations have continued to sustain momentum under Operation Hadin Kai and Operation Desert Sanity V, yielding measurable successes in disrupting terrorist logistics networks, apprehending collaborators, and recovering arms and ammunition across the theatre of operations.
Reacting to the development, The Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, noted that the cumulative impact of the ongoing operations has significantly weakened terrorist structures, disrupted their logistics base, and restricted their freedom of movement. He added that troops remain highly motivated and operationally effective, with sustained offensive actions aimed at restoring enduring peace and stability to the North-East region.
The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining pressure on terrorist elements, safeguarding civilian populations, and consolidating security gains across the theatre.