Troops Nab 12 Suspected Boko Haram Aides, Spies in Borno

Military personnel from the 5 Brigade, operating under Operation HADIN KAI, have successfully apprehended twelve individuals suspected of collaborating with Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The arrests occurred during a series of intelligence-driven operations conducted in Damasak, Borno State.

The operation, spearheaded by the Acting Commander of the 5 Brigade, Colonel S.O. Bello, took place in the early hours of July 2, 2026. It was initiated based on critical intelligence gathered from the interrogation of an earlier suspect, Mustapha Goni Ahmed, who had been previously arrested at the Kadauri Cattle Market in Damasak.

According to security sources, Ahmed reportedly confessed during questioning, providing crucial details about various meeting points and hideouts utilized by suspected terrorist collaborators, logistics suppliers, and informants within the brigade’s operational area. Acting on this actionable intelligence, troops launched coordinated cordon-and-search operations across multiple identified locations.

These operations led to the arrest of the twelve additional suspects, believed to be integral members of the terrorists’ support network. The individuals taken into custody were identified as Alhaji Dala Kawomi (45), Bulama Mallum Kyari (38), Shatamari Gabo Kyari (30), Tujja Saloma (20), Massa Mairami (70), Bulama Chari Fannai (36), Mustapha Mohammed (28), Bukar Bulama (23), Bunu Madu (25), Awari Baba Goni (23), Hassan Madu (34), and Chellu Malari (60).

Items recovered during the arrests included three Tecno mobile phones, one Itel mobile phone, one Infinix smartphone, and a total sum of N7,360 in cash. Security sources indicated that the suspects are currently undergoing initial processing before being transferred to the Joint Intelligence Fusion Centre (JIFC) in Maiduguri. There, they will face detailed investigation, profiling, and further necessary legal actions.

Military officials have hailed the operation as a significant achievement in ongoing counter-intelligence efforts. They emphasized that these actions are crucial for dismantling terrorist support structures and disrupting the vital logistics and information networks that sustain insurgent activities across the Lake Chad region. Operations to identify and apprehend other collaborators linked to this network are reportedly continuing.