RismadarVoice Reporters
June 2, 2026
The Nigerian Navy has announced the arrest of a suspected collaborator linked to terrorist activities in the Lake Chad region, following an intelligence-led operation supported by aerial surveillance technology.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Naval Information, Captain A.A. Folorunsho, the suspect was apprehended on June 1 during an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission conducted by personnel of the Naval Base Lake Chad.
The operation reportedly involved the deployment of a tactical drone to monitor activities within the Lake Chad area of operations, a region that has remained a focal point of counter-terrorism efforts in Nigeria’s North-East.
During the surveillance exercise, naval operatives observed a man later identified as Baba Saidu Abdullahi moving from an area where suspected terrorist elements had previously been sighted. Continued monitoring allegedly revealed interactions between the individual and armed insurgents before he departed the location.
Security personnel subsequently tracked the suspect’s movements in real time from the Dumba axis toward the vicinity of Charlie Company, 196 Amphibious Battalion, where he was intercepted and arrested.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect frequently travelled between Dumba and Baga Town and was allegedly in regular contact with terrorist groups operating within the region.
Initial findings also suggested that he may have been involved in providing logistical assistance to insurgents through the procurement and transportation of supplies considered vital to their operations.
The Navy disclosed that several items of investigative interest were recovered during a search conducted on the suspect following his arrest. He has since been handed over to the appropriate military authorities for further interrogation and possible prosecution in accordance with established procedures.
The naval authorities described the operation as another example of the growing effectiveness of intelligence-driven and technology-enabled security operations in the fight against terrorism.
According to the statement, the successful arrest highlights the importance of advanced surveillance capabilities in improving situational awareness, tracking suspicious movements, and disrupting support networks that enable terrorist groups to operate.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing joint military operations under Operation HADIN KAI, stressing that it will continue to deploy available assets and resources to combat terrorism and enhance security across the Lake Chad region.
Security agencies have increasingly focused on dismantling logistics and supply chains that sustain insurgent activities, viewing such efforts as critical to weakening the operational capabilities of terrorist groups and restoring lasting peace in affected communities.
