Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a suspected Sudanese terrorist fighter and an alleged illegal immigrant during an intelligence-led operation in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, in what the military described as another breakthrough in its campaign against insurgency in the North-East.
The operation, conducted by troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion under Sector 4 of Operation HADIN KAI, took place at about 11:48 a.m. on Saturday in Lassa, Dille General Area, as part of sustained counter-terrorism operations across the theatre.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, troops apprehended 32-year-old Musa Fashir, a Sudanese national suspected of being a foreign terrorist fighter and collaborator.
Preliminary intelligence, the military said, indicates that the suspect has links with terrorist elements operating in the region, raising fresh concerns over attempts by foreign actors to reinforce insurgent activities in Nigeria’s North-East.
During the same operation, troops also arrested 36-year-old Mary Florence, who claimed to be an illegal immigrant from the Republic of Ghana.
The military said the circumstances surrounding her presence in the area, as well as the authenticity of her claims, are currently being investigated.
Both suspects are being held in military custody, where they are undergoing profiling and interrogation to establish their identities, determine the extent of their activities and ascertain any possible connections to terrorist organisations or transnational criminal networks.
The military described the arrests as further evidence of the effectiveness of Operation HADIN KAI’s intelligence-driven operations and the vigilance of troops in disrupting the movement of terrorists and their collaborators.
It noted that the operation underscores the Joint Task Force’s determination to dismantle terrorist logistics, financing and support networks while preventing the infiltration of foreign fighters into the country.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations aimed at restoring lasting peace and security across the North-East.
The military also appealed to residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible intelligence, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to defeating terrorism and ensuring long-term stability in the region.
