Joint Task Force North East (JTF NE), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), on Tuesday foiled an imminent suicide attack and disrupted a critical bomb-making supply chain in a series of coordinated operations.
The success, stemming from sustained intelligence-driven missions, underscores the military’s intensified campaign to secure Borno State ahead of the new year.
At approximately 1740 hours on Tuesday, vigilance turned to action at the Banki Central Mosque in Bama Local Government Area. Personnel from the 152 Task Force Battalion, acting on intelligence, apprehended a suspected suicide bomber identified as Abubakar Mustapha, a native of Bama LGA.
The suspect was caught in possession of fully primed components for an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), indicating he was in the final stages of preparing to execute an attack. A subsequent search revealed additional incriminating materials directly linked to terrorist activities.
“The suspect was neutralized in the very final stage of his deadly mission. His apprehension at such a sensitive location underscores both the persistent threat we face and the precision of our intelligence gathering. This was not just a capture; it was the prevention of a mass casualty event”, said Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for JTF NE OPHK
Mustapha is currently undergoing detailed interrogation by military authorities.
“Our focus now is to unravel his network—to identify his sponsors, collaborators, and his exact linkages within the terrorist hierarchy operating in this area. Every piece of information is crucial to preventing future attacks,” Lt. Col. Uba added.
In a seamlessly related operation, demonstrating the scope of the security dragnet, troops deployed at the strategic Cameroon-Nigeria border gate intercepted a Peugeot vehicle.
The vehicle was found to be transporting six 50kg bags of urea fertilizer, a heavily regulated agricultural chemical notorious for its use as a primary precursor in manufacturing IEDs.
Both the vehicle and the illicit cargo were immediately impounded. Exploitation of intelligence from this interception led forces to the fertilizer dealer, resulting in his arrest and the recovery of an additional six bags, bringing the total seized to twelve bags (600kg) of urea fertilizer.
“This interception is arguably as significant as the bomber’s arrest,” emphasized Lt. Col. Uba.
“Urea is a key ingredient for terrorism in this region. By cutting this supply line, we have not just stopped one bomb; we have potentially disabled an entire workshop meant to produce dozens of devices intended to kill our soldiers and innocent civilians. The dealer is in custody, and we are tracing the entire supply chain backwards.”
Ongoing Operations and Public Reassurance
The Joint Task Force confirmed that all suspects and recovered items are in military custody for exhaustive investigation and subsequent prosecution.
Troops across the North East continue to dominate their Areas of Responsibility through aggressive patrols, standing checkpoints, and sustained intelligence-led operations aimed at denying freedom of action to factions of Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād (JAS) and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
“The morale and offensive posture of our troops remain exceptionally high and effective,” Lt. Col. Uba stated. “These twin successes are a testament to their vigilance, the improving synergy between our troops and other security agencies, and the invaluable support from local communities.”
The military high command reassured the public of its unwavering commitment to restoring lasting peace and security in the region. “We urge all citizens to maintain this partnership. Your timely and credible information is the bedrock of our pre-emptive operations. Together, we are steadily dismantling the capabilities of these terror groups and making our homeland safer,” the statement concluded.
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