Troops Nab Terror Suspects, Arrest Armed Civilians, Detain Foreign National in Fresh Northeast Security Sweep

By Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri

Troops from the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have achieved several security successes in Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa states by arresting suspected members of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), catching armed civilians connected to a deadly shooting, and detaining a suspected foreign national under unclear circumstances.

The operations, carried out by troops of Sectors 2 and 4 over the weekend, underscore renewed military pressure on insurgents and criminal elements operating within the North-East theatre.

In one of the major operations, troops arrested six suspected terrorists and logistics suppliers in the Geidam and Mubi North areas of Yobe and Adamawa states while also neutralising two insurgents along the Ngoshe–Pulka axis of the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

Confirming the development in Maiduguri, the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, said the troops sustained offensive operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP elements across the theatre between March 31 and April 4, 2026.

According to him, the coordinated operations led to the disruption of insurgent logistics networks and the arrest of several suspects believed to be aiding terrorist movements and supplies.

Military sources said the troops, acting on credible intelligence and in collaboration with local security volunteers, intercepted the suspects in separate operations, while follow-up actions are ongoing to uncover wider terrorist support networks.

In a related development, OPHK also arrested five suspects in connection with the alleged illegal possession and discharge of firearms in the Ngomari Old Airport area of Maiduguri, an incident that reportedly led to the death of an innocent resident from stray bullets.

The military said the suspects were linked to the unlawful use of firearms during a social event in the community, prompting swift intervention by security personnel after the incident triggered outrage among residents.

Lt Col. Uba said the Theatre Command had taken decisive steps following the incident, stressing that investigations had already commenced to determine the full circumstances surrounding the tragic shooting.

He noted that the command would not tolerate reckless use of firearms or any action capable of endangering civilian lives, adding that those found culpable would face the full weight of the law.

Security officials said the suspects are currently being interrogated, while efforts are being intensified to trace the source of the weapons allegedly used during the event.

In another security development, troops of the 233 Tank Battalion operating along the Damaturu–Potiskum Motorway in Yobe State arrested a suspected foreign national identified as Abdulrazak Muhammad, 31, during a routine stop-and-search operation.

A military source said the suspect was intercepted in the early hours of April 3 at a checkpoint and found in possession of three mobile phones without SIM cards, a notebook and a small amount of foreign currency.

According to the source, the suspect, who allegedly claimed to be a Ghanaian from Accra, could not provide any valid means of identification at the time of arrest.

The source added that during preliminary questioning, the suspect reportedly gave conflicting accounts about his identity, nationality, and travel history, claiming ties to Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria at different times.

He was also said to have appeared confused when asked to explain his destination and purpose of travel, raising further suspicion among security personnel.

Military authorities said the suspect remains in custody as investigations continue to determine his true identity, his movement patterns, and whether his presence may have wider security implications.

The latest arrests and operations come amid intensified efforts by Operation Hadin Kai to tighten security across the North-East and sustain pressure on insurgent groups, criminal collaborators and other suspicious actors threatening peace in the region.

Security analysts say the developments reflect a growing emphasis not only on direct combat operations but also on intelligence-led arrests, community surveillance and pre-emptive action aimed at disrupting terror logistics and preventing avoidable civilian casualties.

OPHK Arrests Five Over Wedding Gunfire That Killed Young Girl in Maiduguri

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Troops of the Northeast Joint Task Force under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have arrested five suspects over the alleged illegal possession and reckless discharge of firearms in the Ngomari Old Airport area of Maiduguri, Borno State, in an incident that claimed the life of a young girl.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday in Maiduguri by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, who said the military had launched a full investigation into the tragic shooting linked to stray bullets in the community.

According to the statement, the incident occurred at about 2:00 p.m. on April 4, 2026, during a wedding ceremony held at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Teachers’ Quarters along Airport Road in Maiduguri. The suspects were alleged to have engaged in sporadic gunfire into the air during the social event, an action that reportedly led to the death of an innocent girl.

Uba said the suspects were later identified by vigilantes as members of an escort team attached to the chairman of a local government area in the state.

“The Headquarters Theatre Command, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, has taken decisive action following the incident involving the unauthorised discharge of firearms in Borno State, which tragically resulted in the loss of an innocent girl-child,” he stated.

He added that troops moved swiftly after the incident and arrested the five suspects allegedly connected to the shooting. They were identified as Muhammad Husaini, 28; Abba Jiddu, 25; Abba Kolo Mohammed, 20; Ali Adam, 20; and Nura Mohammed, 18.

Military authorities described the action of the suspects as unlawful, reckless and contrary to all rules guiding the handling and use of firearms, especially in civilian areas.

The statement noted that the suspects are currently in custody and would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution in line with the law.

Reacting to the incident, the Theatre Commander of OPHK, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, strongly condemned the act, describing it as unprofessional, unauthorised and a serious breach of regulations governing firearms use.

He stressed that members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and other support personnel are not allowed to engage in indiscriminate firing under any circumstance, particularly in populated civilian communities.

Abubakar also assured residents that the command had commenced a detailed investigation in collaboration with relevant state authorities, including the Office of the Senior Adviser on Security to the Borno State Government, to establish the full facts surrounding the incident and ensure justice is served.

He said although calm has returned to the area, troops have maintained heightened vigilance to preserve peace and order.

The military command also extended condolences to the bereaved family, assuring the public of its commitment to accountability, justice and the protection of lives and property across the theatre of operation.

Defence Minister Orders Troops to Fire on Sight as FG Ramps Up War Against Terror in North-East

By Njadvara Musa

The Minister of Defence, Lieutenant General Christopher Musa (rtd), on Tuesday ordered troops of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), to open fire on terrorists on sight in a renewed push to crush insurgency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

Gen. Musa gave the directive while addressing soldiers alongside the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, at the parade grounds of the 212 Battalion, Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.

The minister said troops no longer needed to hesitate in the face of threats, stressing that the era of waiting for clearance before engaging terrorists had ended.

“You have been given an express order today to shoot any terrorist on sight,” he told the troops, charging them to remain courageous and committed in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations across the region.

He praised the soldiers for their sacrifices and assured them of the Federal Government’s continued support in the fight against Boko Haram and other extremist groups.

“We are proud of every one of you. Nigerians are praying for all of you in the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the North-East,” he said.

Mr Musa also linked the renewed military push to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to improving troop welfare and strengthening the armed forces’ operational capacity.

According to him, the President has approved improved monthly salaries for soldiers and released substantial funds for the acquisition of modern military hardware, including aircraft, ammunition, drones and other combat enablers.

“The President has increased your monthly salaries, and this is to show his commitment to your welfare and to the success of this operation,” he said.

The Defence Minister, however, warned troops against indiscipline, illicit conduct and drug abuse, insisting that professionalism must remain central to military operations.

He said the responsibility of the armed forces in the North-East remained clear: to eliminate terrorists and restore lasting peace to the region after nearly two decades of bloodshed.

Earlier in Maiduguri, Mr Musa and Mr Matawalle had paid a sympathy visit to the Borno State Government following the recent bomb attacks that rocked parts of the state, including the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Monday Market and the post office area.

During a courtesy call to the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Umar Usman Kadafur, the minister said the visit was meant to condole with victims and assess the current security situation, especially in vulnerable border communities around Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

He condemned the bombings and described the attacks as senseless acts of violence with no moral or religious justification.

“These acts do not represent any religion or any legitimate cause,” he said while expressing the Federal Government’s condolences to families of the victims.

At the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, Mr Musa said President Tinubu had personally directed both ministers to commiserate with the people of the state over the latest attacks, which reportedly claimed 28 lives.

“We are here to see the good people of Borno State, where these unfortunate incidents occurred. The President has directed me and the Minister of State for Defence to commiserate with you,” he said.

He assured residents that the Federal Government was deeply concerned about the security breaches and was already reviewing fresh strategies to prevent a recurrence.

“I want to assure the people of the state and the entire North-East that such occurrences would not happen again,” he added.

Mr Musa said the government’s broader objective was not only to sympathise with victims but also to critically evaluate what had gone wrong and what new steps were required to end the 17-year insurgency that has claimed more than 50,000 lives and displaced millions across the region.

“We are here in Maiduguri to review what has happened and assess what can be done differently to bring this war to an end,” he said.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, also reassured traditional rulers and residents that the Federal Government was determined to record major gains against insurgents in the coming weeks.

“I want to assure you, Your Royal Highness, that you will see changes within a month,” Mr Matawalle said, expressing optimism that the renewed military measures would significantly weaken terrorist operations in the region.

The ministers’ visit comes amid heightened concerns over renewed attacks in parts of the North-East, despite years of military campaigns against Boko Haram and ISWAP.

Security analysts say the latest show of force and tough rhetoric from the Federal Government may signal a more aggressive phase in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy as pressure mounts to bring lasting peace to the region.