Troops of Sector 4, Operation Hadin Kai, have arrested a suspected foreign terrorist fighter and an alleged illegal immigrant during a security operation in Lassa, Dille General Area of Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The arrests were made on Saturday as troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion intensified intelligence-driven counter-terrorism operations across the North-East.
The Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Mohammad Goni, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.
According to Goni, the operation was conducted at about 11:48 a.m. on July 19 as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist activities and dismantle their support networks in the region.
He said the troops arrested 32-year-old Musa Fashir, a Sudanese national suspected of being a foreign terrorist fighter and collaborator.
“Preliminary intelligence indicates that the suspect has established links with terrorist elements, further highlighting attempts by foreign actors to support insurgent activities in the region,” the statement said.
The troops also apprehended 36-year-old Mary Florence, who claimed to be an illegal immigrant from the Republic of Ghana.
Goni said the circumstances surrounding her presence in the area, as well as the authenticity of her claims, were being investigated.
He added that both suspects remain in military custody, where they are undergoing profiling and interrogation to establish their identities, determine the extent of their activities and ascertain any possible links to terrorist groups or transnational criminal networks.
According to the military, the arrests underscore the effectiveness of Operation Hadin Kai’s intelligence-driven operations and the vigilance of troops in preventing terrorists and their collaborators from operating freely.
Goni added that the operation reflects the military’s continued commitment to disrupting terrorist support networks, preventing the infiltration of foreign fighters and protecting communities across the North-East.
