Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator identified as Abubakar Usman, also known as Buba, who was on a mission to lure and murder repentant terrorists. The suspect was tracked and arrested on June 16, 2026, at the GSS IDPs Camp in Gwoza town, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
Confession and Mission
Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), disclosed on Friday that the suspect confessed his mission was to lure repentant terrorists back to the Mandara Mountains to murder them. The update was given during a briefing on troops' operations nationwide between June 12 and June 18, 2026.
Arrest in Kwara State
In Kwara State, following sustained monitoring that revealed the movement of the wife of a notorious terrorist kingpin, Auta Ilori, towards his camp, troops of Operation Savannah Shield in the North Central conducted a targeted operation on June 16. This led to the interception and arrest of Mrs. Hafsatu Alh Bello, aged 27, at a settlement near Ndeji town in Edu Local Government Area. She was arrested with her three children, along with Lawali Oro, his wife Hauwa'u Muhammad, and two children at whose residence she had been sheltering overnight. During preliminary interrogation, Mrs. Bello admitted awareness of her husband's activities as a terrorist and kidnapper, providing a significant lead.
Arrests in Oyo State
Troops also arrested four suspected terrorists in front of a Correctional Farm Centre at Goma, along the Ogbomoso–Oko Road in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area of Oyo State. Preliminary profiling revealed incriminating photographs on mobile phones of two suspects, showing them dressed in military camouflage and carrying AK-47 rifles. One suspect also allegedly confessed to involvement in terrorist activities.
Overall Operations
During the period, a total of 26 terrorists, informants, collaborators, crude oil thieves, and other criminal elements were arrested. Seven were neutralized, and 17 kidnapped victims were rescued. The DMO stated, "The rescue of several citizens from unlawful captivity and neutralizing networks of economic saboteurs, gunrunners, and terrorists indicate troops' sustained duty to protect the nation."
Air Support and Community Engagement
Onoja also reported that the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY) provided support to ground troops on June 12, 2026, when the Abuja to Kaduna train service developed a technical fault. A NAF helicopter provided air cover, patrolling the Kaduna–Abuja Main Supply Route, the adjoining rail track, and the Rijana and Katari general areas. The mission was extended to include a patrol over the perimeter of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, before the aircraft returned to base.
As part of Civil-Military Cooperation during the period, troops reached out to host communities by distributing 40 bags of fertilizer to selected farmers at Dahuwa Primary School, Chamo District in Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State, to support agricultural productivity and strengthen ties with local communities. The initiative reflects the Armed Forces of Nigeria's broader policy of complementing combat operations with deliberate community development and welfare support, in line with the Chief of Defence Staff's directive to all theatre commanders to fully integrate Civil-Military Cooperation into operational activities nationwide.
