Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested a Sudanese national suspected of having links to terrorist groups and a Ghanaian woman identified as an alleged illegal immigrant during a security operation in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The arrests were made on July 19 by troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion operating under Sector 4 of Operation Hadin Kai.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Capt.
Muhammed Goni, said the operation formed part of ongoing intelligence-led counter-terrorism efforts across the North-East.
“Troops of Sector 4, Operation Hadin Kai, while sustaining aggressive counter-terrorism operations across the North-East theatre, have apprehended another foreign terrorist fighter and an alleged illegal immigrant during a security operation in Lassa, Dille General Area of Askira/Uba Local Government Area, Borno State,” Goni said.
He identified the Sudanese suspect as 32-year-old Musa Fashir, alleging that preliminary intelligence linked him to terrorist elements operating in the region.
“During the operation, troops arrested one Musa Fashir, a 32-year-old Sudanese national suspected to be a foreign terrorist fighter and collaborator.
Preliminary intelligence indicates that the suspect has established links with terrorist elements, further highlighting attempts by foreign actors to support insurgent activities in the region,” he stated.
The military spokesman also disclosed that troops arrested 36-year-old Mary Florence, who claimed to be a Ghanaian national living in Nigeria illegally.
“Troops also apprehended Mary Florence, 36, who claimed to be an illegal immigrant from the Republic of Ghana. The circumstances surrounding her presence in the area, as well as the authenticity of her claims, are currently under investigation,” Goni added.
According to him, both suspects remain in military custody, where they are undergoing profiling and interrogation to verify their identities, determine the extent of their activities and establish whether they have links to terrorist organisations or transnational criminal networks.
Goni said the arrests underscore the effectiveness of the military’s intelligence-driven operations in disrupting terrorist activities and preventing the infiltration of foreign fighters into the North-East.
“The successful arrests further demonstrate the effectiveness of Operation Hadin Kai’s intelligence-driven operations and the vigilance of troops in denying terrorists and their collaborators freedom of action,” he said.
He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to dismantling terrorist networks and appealed to members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies.
“Operation Hadin Kai remains resolute in its mandate to neutralise terrorists and dismantle their logistics, financing and support networks.
Members of the public are encouraged to sustain their support by providing timely and credible information to security agencies, as collective vigilance remains critical to the restoration of lasting peace, security and stability in the North-East,” Goni said.
