Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested a suspected terrorist informant during an intelligence-led operation in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The suspect, identified as Alhaji Sule Bako, was apprehended at about 11:40 a.m. on Wednesday, August 5, in Dzangola Kilba, following credible intelligence linking him to alleged information-sharing activities for terrorist elements operating in the area.
A security source, who disclosed the development, said the arrest was carried out by troops of the 232 Battalion (Tactical) under Operation Desert Sanity V, a component of the ongoing military campaign against insurgency in the North-East.
According to the source, Bako was arrested without any resistance during the operation.
He is currently in military custody, where he is undergoing preliminary interrogation as investigators work to establish the nature and extent of his alleged relationship with terrorist networks operating in the area.
The source said the arrest was part of wider intelligence-driven operations aimed at disrupting terrorist groups by targeting not only their fighters but also the networks that provide them with information, supplies and other forms of support.
He said security forces had continued to increase surveillance and intelligence gathering across communities considered vulnerable to terrorist activities.
“The military has continued to intensify offensive and intelligence operations to disrupt insurgent activities and deny terrorist groups access to local support structures in the region,” the source said.
The latest arrest highlights the important role of intelligence in the military’s campaign against insurgency in the North-East.
Terrorist groups operating in the region have, over the years, relied on local networks for information about the movement of security personnel, military operations and the activities of residents.
Informants and other collaborators can provide such groups with information that may help them avoid security operations, identify targets or move supplies and personnel.
For this reason, the military has increasingly focused on dismantling the support structures around terrorist organisations as part of its wider counter-insurgency strategy.
Operation Hadin Kai is the Nigerian military’s major counter-insurgency operation in the North-East. It covers states that have faced years of attacks by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups.
The operation involves the Nigerian Army and other security agencies working to prevent attacks, clear terrorist camps, rescue victims, secure communities and restore normal activities in affected areas.
Adamawa has been one of the states affected by the insurgency, although the level and pattern of attacks have changed over the years.
Communities in parts of the state have faced threats linked to terrorist activities, particularly in areas close to the Sambisa Forest and other locations where insurgent groups have operated.
The military has therefore continued to carry out patrols, raids and intelligence operations in different parts of the state to prevent terrorist groups from establishing footholds.
The arrest of Bako in Hong Local Government Area comes against this wider background of efforts to prevent terrorist networks from rebuilding their support structures.
Military authorities have repeatedly stressed that defeating insurgency requires more than direct confrontation with armed fighters.
According to security experts, cutting off access to information, food, money, weapons, transportation and other forms of local support can weaken the ability of terrorist groups to operate effectively.
Suspected informants are therefore often investigated to establish whether they acted independently or as part of a wider network.
The military source said the investigation into Bako would help authorities determine the extent of his alleged activities and identify any possible links to other members of the network.
He did not disclose the specific information Bako was allegedly providing to the terrorists or whether any other suspects had been identified in connection with the case.
The military has also not disclosed whether the suspect would be handed over to another security agency or prosecuted after the completion of the investigation.
Security agencies generally subject suspects arrested during counter-insurgency operations to questioning and investigation before further legal action is taken.
The latest operation is part of the military’s continuing efforts to combine offensive operations with intelligence gathering.
Operation Desert Sanity V, under which the arrest was reportedly carried out, is one of the military’s ongoing efforts to sustain pressure on terrorist groups and their support networks in the North-East.
The military has in recent years increased its focus on intelligence-led operations, which allow troops to identify suspected terrorists and collaborators before carrying out targeted operations.
Such operations are also intended to reduce the risk of attacks on civilians and security personnel by disrupting planned activities before they are carried out.
The arrest is expected to provide investigators with an opportunity to gather more information about terrorist activities in the Hong area and possibly identify other individuals linked to the suspected network.
For residents of communities affected by insecurity, security operations targeting terrorist support networks are considered important because they can help prevent attacks and create a safer environment for farming, trading and other economic activities.
However, security agencies are also expected to ensure that investigations are conducted fairly and that suspects are treated in accordance with the law until their guilt is established by a competent court.
For now, Bako remains in military custody as the investigation continues.
The military said its operations across the North-East would continue as part of efforts to weaken terrorist groups, disrupt their supply and information networks and restore lasting peace in affected communities.
The arrest also highlights the military’s broader strategy of targeting the wider network that enables terrorist groups to operate, rather than focusing only on armed fighters.