Nigerian Army troops
In a major breakthrough, troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested a serving soldier and a police officer suspected of smuggling arms and military-grade equipment to Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists operating in Nigeria’s North-East.
A top military source at the Army Headquarters, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the arrests were made between September 26 and 28 following an intelligence-led operation.
According to the source, troops deployed for internal security duties intercepted suspicious movements along a well-known terror supply corridor in Borno State on September 26. This led to a sting operation the following day, during which the two uniformed suspects were reportedly caught in possession of weapons, ammunition, and communication gadgets believed to be intended for insurgents.
“Our surveillance teams had been monitoring this route for a while. The evidence gathered pointed clearly to insider involvement in the illegal arms pipeline,” the source revealed.
Preliminary investigations have allegedly linked the suspects to a broader network of collaborators providing support to terrorist factions in the region. Both men are currently in military custody, undergoing interrogation.
“They will face internal disciplinary processes before being handed over to civil authorities for prosecution,” the source said, adding that the operation is part of ongoing efforts to eliminate insider threats within the security forces.
He described the arrests as a “decisive step” in breaking the chain of internal collusion that has long complicated Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.
“The Nigerian Army remains committed to cleaning its ranks and restoring public trust. There is no room for saboteurs in our fight against terror,” he stressed.
In related operations, troops reportedly arrested a suspected Boko Haram informant in the Baga area of Borno State. Meanwhile, in Adamawa, soldiers intercepted three motorcycles loaded with 32 jerrycans of petrol at Kasuwan Dere in Mubi South Local Government Area—believed to be part of a fuel supply line to terrorist camps.
In the North-West theatre, troops of the 17 Brigade made further gains by apprehending a suspected arms courier and an informant in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State. Investigations suggest links to a known arms dealer connected to an operative identified only by the codename “Babaru.”
“One suspect escaped by scaling a fence during the raid, but several kidnapped victims were rescued across various sectors,” the source added.
These developments come amid renewed efforts by the military to tighten security across volatile regions and crack down on terrorist support networks both within and outside the ranks.
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