Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested three women suspected of collaborating with fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) during an intelligence-led operation in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, northeastern Nigeria.
The operation, which was carried out on June 22, 2026, formed part of wider counterterrorism efforts under Operation Hadin Kai in the Lake Chad region, where military intelligence had reportedly tracked suspected movement and support networks linked to insurgent cells operating around Konduga and nearby rural communities. Security sources said the arrests followed coordinated surveillance and community-based intelligence indicating that some individuals in civilian populations were allegedly providing logistical support, shelter, or communication assistance to ISWAP elements.
Konduga, located along a strategic axis linking Maiduguri to southern Borno, has remained a frequent flashpoint in Nigeria’s long-running insurgency involving Boko Haram and its splinter faction ISWAP. The area has historically witnessed repeated attacks, ambushes, and counter-offensive operations, with both military forces and civilian populations often caught in cycles of violence and displacement. Military analysts note that its proximity to Maiduguri makes it a critical buffer zone in preventing insurgent infiltration into the state capital.
According to multiple security-linked accounts, the three women were apprehended following intelligence reports that placed them in suspected contact with insurgent operatives. They are currently undergoing interrogation and profiling under military custody as part of standard procedures applied to individuals believed to have ties, direct or indirect, to terrorist networks. Authorities have not released their identities or detailed allegations, citing the ongoing nature of investigations.
The arrests come amid intensified military pressure on insurgent factions across Borno State, where Nigerian forces have in recent months escalated clearance operations, targeted raids, and surveillance missions aimed at dismantling remaining ISWAP and Boko Haram cells. These operations have increasingly focused not only on armed fighters but also on support systems believed to sustain militant logistics, including informants, couriers, and sympathizers embedded within rural settlements and internally displaced persons’ environments.
Konduga and surrounding local government areas have repeatedly featured in major security incidents over the years, including mass casualty attacks and military engagements that underscore the region’s strategic importance in the conflict. In previous years, the area has witnessed large-scale assaults by insurgents and sustained counterattacks by Nigerian forces, reflecting its position along key operational routes used by armed groups in the North-East.
Military authorities have reiterated that intelligence-led operations remain central to ongoing stabilization efforts in the region, emphasizing that cooperation between security agencies and local communities continues to play a crucial role in identifying and disrupting insurgent networks. Officials also stressed that all suspects will be subject to due process as investigations progress.
As of the time of filing this report, no official statement has been issued disclosing the alleged operational roles of the arrested women, and authorities say further details will be made available as interrogation and field investigations continue.
Security experts caution that while arrests such as these reflect ongoing pressure on insurgent infrastructure, the broader conflict in the North-East remains complex, with evolving tactics by armed groups and continued humanitarian challenges affecting civilian populations across Borno State and beyond.
Further updates are expected as the Nigerian Army releases additional operational findings from the ongoing counterinsurgency campaign in the region.
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