Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have recorded another operational success in their ongoing campaign to dismantle terrorist logistics and criminal support networks across the North East.
In a statement,Media Information Officer Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI Lieut. Col. Sani Uba said the troops acted on credible intelligence on January 23, 2026, to arrest a suspected drug dealer, Hauwa Abulazeez, 65, in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. The suspect is believed to be a key supplier of cannabis sativa to Boko Haram terrorist elements operating within Askira Uba, Rumirgo, Gwahi, Wamdiyo, Uvu and Gaya communities, and a major conduit in the distribution of the illicit substance across the Theatre of Operations.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly sourced the drugs from Sarti Baruwa Local Government Area of Taraba State and transported them through established supply routes for onward distribution. During the operation, troops recovered 14 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa with an estimated total weight of about 30 kilograms, a significant seizure aimed at cutting off supplies intended to sustain terrorist and criminal activities.
The suspect is currently in military custody undergoing preliminary investigation, while follow-up operations are ongoing to identify and dismantle the wider trafficking network linked to the operation.
Military authorities said the interception highlights the strategic importance of denying illicit supply chains that fuel terrorism, violence and criminality. They noted that such operations contribute to improved security, reduced criminal influence and the strengthening of lawful authority across the region.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to confronting and eliminating all forms of criminality in the North East, stressing that sustained, intelligence-driven operations will continue until lasting peace and stability are achieved in the Theatre.
