Soldiers Arrest Sudanese Man, Ghanaian Woman in Borno Forest

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested a 32-year-old Sudanese national and a 36-year-old Ghanaian woman during a security operation in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. The Nigerian Army identified the Sudanese suspect, Musa Fashir, as a suspected foreign terrorist fighter and collaborator, while the Ghanaian, Mary Florence, was described as an alleged illegal immigrant. The arrests were made by troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion on July 19 during an intelligence-led operation in the Lassa, Dille General Area.

According to the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, preliminary intelligence suggests that Fashir has established links with terrorist elements operating in the North-East, raising concerns about the involvement of foreign actors in supporting insurgent activities. He added that the circumstances surrounding Florence's presence in the area, as well as the authenticity of her claims of being an illegal immigrant from Ghana, are still under investigation.

The Army said both suspects are currently in military custody undergoing profiling and interrogation to establish their identities, determine the extent of their activities and uncover any possible connections to terrorist groups or transnational criminal networks. Military authorities described the arrests as another success for Operation Hadin Kai's intelligence-driven counter-terrorism operations.

The military reaffirmed its commitment to disrupting terrorist logistics and support networks across the North-East, urging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies. It noted that community cooperation remains vital to restoring lasting peace, security and stability in the region.