Army arrests wanted soldier over supply of military kits to terrorists

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a Nigerian Army soldier declared wanted over his alleged involvement in supplying military accoutrements to terrorists and other criminal elements operating in the North-East.

The suspect, Private Mohammed Yusuf of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Kits Factory, Lagos, was arrested at the weekend by troops of the 7 Provost Group following actionable intelligence.

According to the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, Yusuf had been declared wanted by the Nigerian Army on July 23, 2026, over allegations of illegally supplying military equipment to terrorists and criminal networks.

He said the suspect, with service number 23NA/84/1939, was arrested at Jidari Bus Stop in Maiduguri, Borno State, while allegedly attempting to flee to the Republic of Cameroon.

Preliminary investigations indicated that Yusuf absconded from his unit on July 7, 2026, before relocating to Maiduguri, where he allegedly went into hiding at Gomari Costain in Jere Local Government Area with the assistance of an associate.

The military said the arrest underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations in dismantling criminal support networks and reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to holding erring personnel accountable.

Captain Goni disclosed that the suspect is currently in the custody of the 7 Provost Group, where further investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of his alleged activities and identify other collaborators.

Operation HADIN KAI reiterated that there would be no safe haven for anyone aiding terrorism or criminality, irrespective of status or affiliation.

The military also urged members of the public to continue providing credible and timely intelligence, stressing that public support remains crucial to ongoing counter-insurgency operations across the North-East.