Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have apprehended 18 individuals suspected of supplying goods to Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State. The suspects were intercepted while travelling toward Gubio, intending to reach the Gudumbali area, a known terrorist enclave.
According to a daily operational report made available on Wednesday, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects admitted to regularly providing items to insurgents, citing unemployment as their motivation—highlighting underlying socio-economic challenges in Maiduguri and surrounding areas.
The military emphasised that the arrests underscore the role civilian collaborators play in sustaining terrorist networks and called for a broader strategy that pairs military action with economic empowerment and job creation to address the root causes of insurgency.
The development aligns with recent remarks by the Chief of Defence Staff, who noted the link between economic hardship and the persistence of logistical support for terrorist activities.
President Bola Tinubu had declared a state of emergency on security last year to curb the rise of criminal activity, but insurgent and bandit groups continue to exploit gaps in enforcement, often evading capture.
