RismadarVoice Reporters, July 20, 2026
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested two foreign nationals: a 32-year-old Sudanese man and a 36-year-old Ghanaian woman in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The Nigerian Army identified the Sudanese national, Musa Fashir, as a suspected foreign terrorist fighter and collaborator, while the Ghanaian woman, Mary Florence, was described as an alleged illegal immigrant.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, said troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion arrested the suspects at about 11:48 a.m. on July 19, 2026, during a security operation in the Lassa–Dille general area of Askira/Uba LGA.
According to the statement, the operation formed part of ongoing intelligence-driven counter-terrorism efforts across the North-East.
“Troops of Sector 4, Operation Hadin Kai, while sustaining aggressive counter-terrorism operations across the North-East theatre, apprehended another foreign terrorist fighter and an alleged illegal immigrant during a security operation in the Lassa, Dille general area of Askira/Uba Local Government Area, Borno State,” the statement read. Goni said preliminary intelligence suggested that Fashir had established links with terrorist elements operating in the region.
“During the operation, troops arrested one Musa Fashir, a 32-year-old Sudanese national suspected to be a foreign terrorist fighter and collaborator. Preliminary intelligence indicates that the suspect has established links with terrorist elements, further highlighting attempts by foreign actors to support insurgent activities in the region,” he said.
The Army also disclosed that Mary Florence claimed to be an illegal immigrant from the Republic of Ghana.
“Troops also apprehended Mary Florence, 36, who claimed to be an illegal immigrant from the Republic of Ghana. The circumstances surrounding her presence in the area, as well as the authenticity of her claims, are currently under investigation,” Goni added.
The military said both suspects remain in custody and are undergoing profiling and interrogation to establish their identities, determine the extent of their activities, and ascertain any possible links to terrorist or transnational criminal networks.
Goni said the arrests underscored the effectiveness of the military’s intelligence-led operations in disrupting terrorist activities and preventing the infiltration of foreign fighters into the North-East.
He reaffirmed Operation Hadin Kai’s commitment to dismantling terrorist logistics, financing, and support networks, while urging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
“Collective vigilance remains critical to the restoration of lasting peace, security and stability in the North-East,” he said.
