Troops Arrest Fugitive Soldier Suspected of Diverting Military Kits to Terrorists

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a Nigerian Army soldier who was declared wanted over his alleged involvement in supplying military accoutrements to terrorists and other criminal elements.

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

The Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, saying the arrest followed credible human intelligence and was carried out by troops of the 7 Provost Group.

According to the statement, the Nigerian Army had declared the soldier wanted on July 23, 2026, over allegations of illegally supplying military accoutrements to terrorists and other criminal elements.

Captain Goni said the suspect was intercepted while allegedly attempting to flee to the Republic of Cameroon.
Preliminary investigations indicated that Private Yusuf absconded from his unit on July 7, 2026, before relocating to Maiduguri, where he reportedly went into hiding in the Gomari Costain area of Jere Local Government Area with the assistance of an associate.

The military said the arrest demonstrates the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations and the Nigerian Army’s resolve to hold personnel accountable for acts that compromise military ethics, discipline and national security.

The suspect is currently in the custody of the 7 Provost Group, where further investigations are ongoing to determine the full scope of the alleged offences and identify any accomplices.

Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed that there would be no safe haven for individuals aiding terrorism or other criminal activities, regardless of their status, and urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.