ABUJA — Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a suspected foreign terrorist fighter and an alleged illegal immigrant during a security operation in Borno State.
The suspects were apprehended on July 19, 2026, at about 11:48 a.m. in Lassa, Dille general area of Askira/Uba Local Government Area, as part of ongoing intelligence-led counter-terrorism operations in the North-East.
Confirming the development, the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Captain Mohammed Goni, said troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion arrested Musa Fashir, a 32-year-old Sudanese national suspected to be a foreign terrorist fighter with links to insurgent elements.
“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,” Goni stated.
He added that troops also apprehended Mary Florence, 36, who claimed to be an illegal immigrant from Ghana, noting that the circumstances surrounding her presence in the area are under investigation.
According to the military, both suspects are currently in custody undergoing profiling and interrogation to determine their identities and possible connections to terrorist or transnational criminal networks.
The Army said the arrests underscore the effectiveness of ongoing intelligence-driven operations aimed at disrupting terrorist activities and preventing infiltration by foreign fighters.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling terrorist logistics, financing and support networks across the North-East, while urging the public to provide credible information to security agencies.
