Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested 41 individuals, including 18 soldiers, 15 mobile policemen, and 8 civilians, among them a traditional ruler for allegedly supplying arms and ammunition to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists.
The arrests come amid renewed concerns over internal sabotage, barely a week after Babagana Zulum, Governor of Borno State, warned that some military personnel and politicians were colluding with terrorists following a spike in insurgent attacks across the state.
Speaking to Defence Correspondents on a fact-finding mission to the region, Ademola Owolana, Staff Officer Grade Two, Operation Hadin Kai, revealed that the arrests were the result of Operation Snowball, a military crackdown on arms racketeering launched in August 2024.
“This operation has led to the arrest of suspects across 11 states, including Borno, Kaduna, Plateau, Lagos, Rivers, Enugu, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Benue, Taraba, and the FCT,” Owolana disclosed.
He explained that community pressure on security personnel, coupled with the lucrative nature of the illegal arms trade, has driven many into smuggling weapons to non-state actors.
Among those arrested are Ameh Raphael, an armourer from the 7 Division Garrison, and Seidi Adamu from the 3rd Division Ordnance Services.
According to him, investigations revealed that Raphael and Adamu had over ₦45 million and ₦34 million respectively in their bank accounts, funds suspected to be proceeds from arms deals.
A third suspect, Enoch Ngwa, a mobile policeman, was found with ₦135 million linked to arms trafficking.
“These individuals deliberately diverted arms from military stockpiles to terrorists, undermining the morale of troops and strengthening the enemy,” said Owolana.
He cited a recent case on February 24, where a soldier from the 144 Battalion was arrested in Kano with 30 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition during a routine search operation.
Abdulsalam Abubakar, Theatre Commander, raised further alarm over the infiltration of foreign mercenaries into the region, revealing that four Pakistani nationals were involved in training terrorists and supplying arms, including armed drones for tactical operations.
“These mercenaries have helped refine the terrorists’ use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), drone surveillance, and battlefield tactics.
“Their influence is a direct threat to Nigeria’s national security and demands urgent multinational cooperation,” he said.
Abubakar accused some NGOs of aiding insurgents under the guise of humanitarian work by supplying food to terrorist camps, further complicating the military’s efforts.
From January 2025 to date, the military has arrested 186 terrorist collaborators, spies, and logistics suppliers.
However, Owolana lamented that lack of tracking devices has hindered real-time interception of arms traffickers and logistics chains.
Despite the setbacks, troops have killed 694 terrorists and recovered 603 assault weapons, 56 RPG bombs, 16 mortar bombs, over 147,000 anti-aircraft rounds, and 16 vehicles.
“This was part of an effort to reclaim and stabilize communities previously under terrorist occupation.
“One such success was the return of over 10,000 displaced persons to Kukawa town after Operation Hadin Kai launched a stabilization mission in May 2024, which included construction of watchtowers, surveillance masts, and barricades,” he added.
Adamu Ibrahim, Chief of Staff, Operation Hadin Kai, addressed concerns over the military’s approach to terrorist families.
He clarified that wives and children of Boko Haram fighters are not targeted or prosecuted, as Nigeria adheres to international humanitarian laws.
“As long as these individuals do not take up arms, they are not combatants. Boko Haram fighters are still Nigerian citizens and we respect their rights as provided by international law,” Ibrahim stated.
In Konduga Local Government Area, troops attached to the Forward Operating Base in Molai recently diffused six IEDs planted by terrorists attempting to cross into Sambisa Forest.
BusinessDay