Army says suspect who absconded from duty was tracked through intelligence operations and is now in custody as investigations widen into alleged criminal network.
The Nigerian Army has arrested a soldier who was recently declared wanted for allegedly supplying military uniforms and other military accoutrements to terrorists and criminal elements operating in the North-East.
The suspect, identified as 23NA/84/1939 Private Mohammed Yusuf of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, was apprehended by troops of the 7 Provost Group, Operation HADIN KAI, while allegedly attempting to escape into the Republic of Cameroon through Borno State.
The Army announced the arrest in a statement issued on Sunday by the Acting Military Information Officer of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, **Captain Muhammed Goni**, who described the operation as another significant breakthrough in the military’s ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal support networks aiding insurgency in the region.
According to the statement, the suspect was arrested at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at Jidari Bus Stop in Maiduguri, following credible human intelligence that led troops to his location.
Captain Goni disclosed that Private Yusuf had earlier been declared wanted by the Nigerian Army on July 23, 2026, after preliminary investigations allegedly linked him to the illegal sale and supply of military uniforms and other military equipment to terrorists and other criminal groups.
Investigators also discovered that the soldier had **absconded from his unit on July 7, 2026**, before relocating to Maiduguri, where he reportedly went into hiding in the **Gomari Costain area of Jere Local Government Area** with the assistance of an associate.
The Army said intelligence gathered during the investigation suggested that Yusuf was making arrangements to flee Nigeria through the Cameroon border when he was intercepted by troops.
“The suspect was apprehended while allegedly attempting to flee to the Republic of Cameroon,” Captain Goni stated, adding that the successful operation highlighted the effectiveness of intelligence-driven military operations in tracking down individuals involved in activities that threaten national security.
He explained that the suspect is currently being held by the 7 Provost Group, where investigators are carrying out further interrogations to determine the full extent of the alleged criminal activities and identify other individuals who may have collaborated with him.
“The suspect is currently in custody, where further investigation is ongoing to establish the full extent of his activities and identify other individuals who may have been involved,” the statement said.
The Army emphasized that the arrest demonstrates its unwavering commitment to enforcing discipline within its ranks and ensuring that any personnel found undermining military ethics or national security are held accountable.
Captain Goni stressed that the Nigerian military would not tolerate any individual, regardless of rank or status, who aids terrorism or other forms of criminality.
There is no safe haven for individuals who support terrorism or any form of criminality, irrespective of their status. The military remains resolute in upholding professionalism, accountability and the highest standards of integrity in the conduct of ongoing counter-insurgency operations,” he said.
He also appealed to members of the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing credible and timely information, noting that public cooperation remains vital in the ongoing fight against insurgency and efforts to restore lasting peace across the North-East.
The arrest comes just days after the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps officially declared Private Yusuf wanted.
In an earlier statement signed by the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Headquarters Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, Major Oluwatope Aluko, the Corps revealed that preliminary investigations had linked the soldier to the alleged illegal sale and supply of military uniforms to terrorists after he absconded from his unit.
The Army had announced that intensive efforts were underway to locate and apprehend him so that he could face a comprehensive investigation and appropriate disciplinary action in line with existing military laws.
With his arrest, attention is now expected to shift to the ongoing investigation, which military authorities say is aimed at uncovering the full scope of the alleged network involved in diverting military equipment to insurgents and other criminal groups.
Security analysts have repeatedly warned that the diversion of military uniforms and equipment into the hands of terrorists poses a serious threat to national security, as such items are often used by criminal groups to impersonate security personnel, evade detection, infiltrate communities, and launch attacks against civilians and security forces.
The Nigerian Army has reiterated that it will continue to pursue anyone involved in activities that compromise national security while strengthening internal accountability measures to preserve the integrity of its operations in the fight against insurgency.
