Troops Arrest Teenage Terror Suspect, Detain Woman Accused of Supplying ISWAP Operative in Borno
Troops of the 149 Battalion under Operation HADIN KAI, working alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have arrested a 15-year-old suspected terrorist identified as Umar Zacharria in Gubio town, Borno State.
The suspect was apprehended around 1:20 p.m. on May 14 during a joint operation carried out by security forces and CJTF operatives.
According to security sources, preliminary investigations revealed that the teenager is from Jere Local Government Area and allegedly confessed to being part of a group involved in attacks and harassment of motorists around the Kareto axis.
He is currently in military custody for further investigation.
In a separate operation, troops of the 196 Amphibious Battalion also arrested a 50-year-old woman, Mrs Kellu Alhaji Abba, for allegedly supplying logistics to her son, who is suspected to be a member of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
She was reportedly arrested at about 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20, during a routine security screening at the C Company 7 Platoon checkpoint in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources said the suspect, a resident of the Lawanti area in Baga, was intercepted while allegedly attempting to move supplies into the bush for her son, Modu Mustapha, who is said to be an ISWAP operative active around the Dumba area.
Items recovered from her included four packs of ready-to-use nutritional supplements, two female hijabs, and a wristwatch.
Military authorities confirmed that Mrs Abba has been taken into custody and is currently being interrogated as part of efforts to uncover other members of the suspected support network linked to insurgent activities in the area.
