Troops arrest suspected Sudanese terrorist, alleged Ghanaian illegal immigrant in Borno

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a Sudanese national suspected of being a foreign terrorist fighter and another woman claiming to be an illegal immigrant from Ghana during a security operation in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

The military said the suspects were apprehended on Saturday during an intelligence-led operation conducted by troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion in Lassa, Dille General Area.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Capt. Mohammed Goni, the military identified the Sudanese suspect as 32-year-old Musa Fashir.

According to the statement, preliminary intelligence suggests that Fashir is suspected to have links with terrorist elements operating in the North-East, raising concerns over the involvement of foreign actors in supporting insurgency in the region.

The troops also arrested a 36-year-old woman, identified as Mary Florence, who claimed to be an illegal immigrant from the Republic of Ghana.

The military said investigations are ongoing to verify her identity, establish the circumstances surrounding her presence in the area and determine the authenticity of her claims.

It added that both suspects are currently in military custody, where they are undergoing profiling and interrogation to establish their identities, assess the extent of their activities and determine whether they have links to terrorist groups or transnational criminal networks.

“Both suspects are in military custody undergoing preliminary profiling and interrogation to establish their identities, determine the extent of their activities, and ascertain any possible links to terrorist or transnational criminal networks,” the statement read partly.

Operation HADIN KAI said the arrests underscored the effectiveness of its intelligence-driven operations and the vigilance of troops in preventing terrorists and their collaborators from operating freely in the North-East.

The military reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling terrorist cells, disrupting their logistics and financial networks, and preventing the infiltration of foreign fighters into the country.

It also urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible intelligence, stressing that public cooperation remains essential to restoring lasting peace and security across the North-East.