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Troops Capture Mastermind of Suicide Bombing in North-East
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have announced a major breakthrough in dismantling a high-profile terror network with the identification of Shariff Umar (also known as “Yusuf”) as the principal coordinator of suicide bombing activities in the North-East.
The breakthrough followed intelligence-led cordon-and-search operations at the Kalmari area of Maiduguri on 31 December 2025, where 14 suspects were apprehended. Subsequent investigations, bolstered by the testimony of suspected bomber Ibrahim Muhammad (arrested earlier in Damaturu), exposed the cell’s intricate structure and operational linkages.
The Coordinator and the Cell’s Operations
Investigations firmly established that Shariff Umar was responsible for recruiting, preparing, and dispatching suicide bombers to various targets. Key operational details revealed that Umar directly coordinated the suicide bombing at the Gamboru Market Mosque on 24 December 2025, which claimed multiple lives.
He was identified as the coordinator of a foiled attempt in Damaturu, having personally handed over Improvised Explosive Device (IED) components to a suicide bomber in Maiduguri.
The investigative trail exposed the involvement of Umar’s wife, Yagana Modu, and stepdaughter, Amina, highlighting how terrorist facilitators exploit domestic settings for concealment.
OPHK emphasized that all suspects are undergoing multi-layered investigations to fully dismantle remaining collaborators and recover logistical assets.
In a separate tactical success on 2 January 2026, troops uncovered a massive cache of high-calibre ammunition in the Bulumkutu Railway area of Maiduguri. The recovery was initiated after residents reported suspicious metallic objects hidden within a drainage channel at approximately 3:00 p.m.
Following a thorough search by troops and Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, they recovered 1,270 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition warheads and several live 12.7mm rounds and power banks used for IED components.
The Theatre Command spokesperson, Lt. Colonel Sani Uba, noted that the recovery further denies terrorists freedom of action in the aftermath of several suicide bombers being neutralized or captured over the past week.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) also confirmed the successful recovery of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) on 2 January 2026 following a “loss of link” during a routine mission. The platform was operating within Sector 3 of Operation FASAN YAMMA when communication was severed.
In line with established safety protocols, the NAF activated a coordinated recovery effort with sister services. The platform has since been secured, and technical teams have begun assessments to determine the cause of the communication failure. NAF emphasized that there was no loss of life and that counter-insurgency operations across all theatres remain fully on course.
