Troops operating under the Joint Task Force in the North East, ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ have arrested a suspected suicide bomber and intercepted materials believed to be intended for the manufacture of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Borno State, the military said Tuesday.
According to a statement by the task force, the arrest followed intelligence-led operations by troops of the 152 Task Force Battalion, working alongside other security agencies, to secure Banki Town in Bama Local Government Area.
The suspect, identified as Abubakar Mustapha, was apprehended at about 5:40 p.m. on Monday at the Banki Central Mosque.
Military authorities said he was found in possession of primed IED components, suggesting plans to carry out an imminent attack.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect is from Bama Local Government Area and was also found with additional materials linked to terrorist activities.
He is currently being interrogated to determine his sponsors, accomplices and possible connections to insurgent groups operating in the area.
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In a separate operation, troops stationed at the Cameroon–Nigeria border intercepted a Peugeot vehicle carrying six bags of urea fertiliser, a substance commonly used in the production of IEDs.
The vehicle and its contents were taken into military custody.
Further intelligence exploitation led to the arrest of the fertiliser dealer and the recovery of six additional bags of urea, bringing the total seized to 12 bags.
All suspects and recovered items remain in custody for further investigation.
The military said troops continue to conduct aggressive patrols and intelligence-driven operations to deny armed groups freedom of movement and prevent attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure.
The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to restoring peace and security in Nigeria’s northeast and called on residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
