Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Troops of the 5 Brigade under Operation HADIN KAI have arrested 12 suspected collaborators, logistics suppliers, and spies working for Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) during a series of intelligence-led operations in Damasak, Borno State. The operation, described by military sources as a significant breakthrough in ongoing counter-intelligence efforts, was carried out in the early hours of 2 July 2026, following actionable intelligence obtained from the interrogation of an earlier suspect, Mustapha Goni Ahmed, who had been arrested at the Kadauri Cattle Market in Damasak.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was led by the Acting Commander of 5 Brigade, Colonel S.O. Bello. According to the sources, Ahmed confessed during interrogation and identified several meeting points and hideouts used by suspected terrorist collaborators, logistics suppliers, and informants operating within the brigade's area of responsibility. Acting on the information, troops launched coordinated cordon-and-search operations at multiple locations, resulting in the arrest of 12 additional suspects believed to be members of the terrorists' support network.
The arrested suspects were identified as Alhaji Dala Kawomi, 45; Bulama Mallum Kyari, 38; Shatamari Gabo Kyari, 30; Tujja Saloma, 20; Massa Mairami, 70; Bulama Chari Fannai, 36; Mustapha Mohammed, 28; Bukar Bulama, 23; Bunu Madu, 25; Awari Baba Goni, 23; Hassan Madu, 34; and Chellu Malari, 60. Items recovered during the operation included three Tecno mobile phones, one Itel mobile phone, one Infinix smartphone, and a total of ₦7,360 in cash. The suspects are currently undergoing preliminary processing before being transferred to the Joint Intelligence Fusion Centre (JIFC) in Maiduguri for detailed investigation, profiling, and further necessary action.
Military sources described the operation as a significant breakthrough in ongoing counter-intelligence efforts aimed at dismantling terrorist support structures and disrupting the logistics and information networks sustaining insurgent activities in the Lake Chad region. They added that operations to identify and apprehend additional collaborators linked to the network are continuing. The arrest of the 12 suspects comes amid a broader offensive by Nigerian troops across the North-East, where sustained military operations are steadily weakening terrorist and criminal networks.
The operation in Damasak is part of the military's ongoing efforts to dismantle the support networks that enable Boko Haram and ISWAP to sustain their insurgency. By targeting collaborators, logistics suppliers, and informants, troops are working to sever the lifelines that allow terrorist groups to operate with relative impunity. The success of the intelligence-led operation underscores the importance of actionable intelligence and community cooperation in the fight against terrorism. As the suspects undergo further interrogation at the Joint Intelligence Fusion Centre in Maiduguri, security forces are hopeful that additional breakthroughs will follow, paving the way for the arrest of more collaborators and the eventual dismantling of terrorist networks in the region.
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