Troops Arrest Wanted Soldier Accused of Supplying Military Gear to Terrorists

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a Nigerian Army soldier who had been declared wanted over allegations that he supplied military equipment and accoutrements to terrorists and other criminal elements.

The suspect, identified as 23NA/84/1939 Private Mohammed Yusuf of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Kits Factory, Lagos, was arrested at about 6:30 p.m on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Jidari Bus Stop in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The arrest was carried out by troops of the 7 Provost Group following what the military described as credible human intelligence.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, said Yusuf had earlier been declared wanted by the Nigerian Army on July 23 over the same allegations.

According to the military, the soldier was apprehended while allegedly attempting to flee to the Republic of Cameroon.

"The suspect, 23NA/84/1939 Private Mohammed Yusuf of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Kits Factory, Lagos, was arrested at about 6:30 p.m. on 25 July 2026 by troops of 7 Provost Group, following credible human intelligence.

"He had been declared wanted by the Nigerian Army on 23 July 2026 over the same allegations. The suspect was apprehended at Jidari Bus Stop, Maiduguri, while allegedly attempting to flee to the Republic of Cameroon," Captain Goni said.

The military said preliminary findings indicated that Yusuf had absconded from his unit on July 7, 2026, before making his way to Maiduguri.

According to the statement, the suspect subsequently went into hiding in the Gomari Costain area of Jere Local Government Area, where he allegedly received assistance from an associate.

The circumstances surrounding his alleged movement from Lagos to Borno and the nature of his suspected dealings with terrorist and criminal elements are expected to form part of the ongoing investigation.

The military has not disclosed the specific military equipment or accoutrements the suspect is alleged to have supplied, nor has it provided details of the alleged recipients.

Yusuf is currently being held by the 7 Provost Group, where military authorities said investigations are continuing.

The investigation is expected to establish the full scope of the allegations against the soldier and determine whether other individuals were involved in the suspected activities.

The arrest comes as the Nigerian military continues counter-insurgency operations in the North-East, where troops have been engaged in efforts to disrupt terrorist networks and prevent the movement of weapons, equipment and other supplies to criminal groups.

Operation HADIN KAI said the arrest demonstrated its commitment to tackling not only terrorism but also alleged acts of misconduct and criminality within its own ranks.

The military stressed that no individual would be protected from accountability because of their status or position.

"Operation HADIN KAI reiterates that there is no safe haven for individuals who support terrorism or any form of criminality, irrespective of their status. The military remains resolute in upholding professionalism, accountability and the highest standards of integrity in the conduct of ongoing counter-insurgency operations," the statement said.

The command also appealed to members of the public to continue providing security agencies with timely and credible information that could assist ongoing counter-terrorism operations.

"Members of the public are encouraged to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, as their cooperation remains critical to the restoration of lasting peace and security across the theatre," the military said.

The latest development is expected to attract further scrutiny as the investigation progresses, particularly on the alleged supply chain involving military equipment and whether the suspect acted alone or as part of a wider network.

The military has yet to announce the outcome of the investigation or disclose whether any additional arrests have been made in connection with the case.