Troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, have arrested four suspected logistics suppliers to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province in separate operations across Yobe and Borno states.
The troops also intercepted 20 suspected family members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad terrorists who were reportedly fleeing their enclave following sustained military offensives.
The Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Capt. Mohammed Goni, disclosed the development in a statement on Tuesday.
According to the statement, troops of the 159 Battalion under Sector 2 arrested two suspected terrorist collaborators during a cordon-and-search operation in Geidam, Yobe State, following credible intelligence.
Preliminary investigations, the military said, indicated that the suspects allegedly supplied hard drugs and other logistics to Boko Haram fighters, aiding their operations.
Items recovered from the suspects included suspected cannabis, mobile phones, power banks, scissors, knives, torchlights, lighters, cigarette rolls, Pregabalin capsules, Piscof syrup, identity cards, ATM cards and ₦14,530 in cash.
In a separate operation carried out at about 3:30 p.m. the same day, troops of Sector 3 Garrison, working with the 242 Reconnaissance Battalion, arrested two suspected ISWAP logistics suppliers in Monguno, Borno State.
The operation followed sustained surveillance of routes allegedly used to supply terrorists.
According to Goni, the suspects confessed during preliminary interrogation to transporting food items and other supplies to ISWAP fighters operating in Kwatan Dowoshi Village in Kukawa Local Government Area.
Recovered items included 11 cartons and 192 sachets of assorted biscuits, one carton of Peak milk, 10 mudu of sugar, nine bars of soap, six headlamps, two bags and 16 rolls of sachet garri, three packs of lighters, two mobile phones, an assault knife, a charm belt, prayer beads, herbal medicines and ₦6,600.
In another operation, troops of the 222 Battalion intercepted 20 suspected family members of JAS terrorists during a routine patrol along the Gezuwa axis in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.
The group comprised nine women, two men, eight female minors and one male minor.
According to the military, the individuals told investigators they fled Gezuwa following intensified military operations against terrorist enclaves in the area.
They have since been handed over to the 21 Military Intelligence Regiment for profiling and further investigation.
The military said all arrested suspects and recovered exhibits had been transferred to the appropriate intelligence units for further action.
It added that the operations demonstrate the effectiveness of Operation HADIN KAI’s intelligence-led strategy in disrupting terrorist logistics networks and cutting off supplies to insurgent groups.