Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a suspected foreign operative believed to be of Moroccan origin with alleged links to the Islamic State (ISIS) in Borno.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed this on Tuesday, saying the arrest followed a military operation after troops repelled a coordinated attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno.
Makama said the operation led to the recovery of communication equipment and other materials abandoned by the insurgents during their withdrawal.
According to him, troops launched pursuit operations along routes believed to have been used by the fleeing terrorists after securing the area.
“During the exploitation exercise conducted on Monday, troops recovered additional operational materials believed to have been abandoned during the insurgents’ hasty withdrawal, including high-frequency hand-held radios considered crucial to the command and control structure of the terrorist group,” he said.
He added that intelligence obtained from the recovered materials enabled troops to extend their operations towards the Lake Chad Islands axis and Abadam Local Government Area.
The security analyst said the operation culminated in the arrest of the suspected foreign operative, who was evacuated from the operational area by a Nigerian Air Force helicopter to a secure military facility for interrogation.
He said the suspect had earlier come under intelligence scrutiny following forensic analysis of video footage recovered from a camcorder belonging to a terrorist cameraman killed during the Cross Kauwa attack.
According to him, extremist groups often deploy media operatives alongside fighters to document attacks for propaganda, recruitment and operational assessment.
“The recovery of the recording device reportedly provided investigators with valuable visual intelligence, leading to the identification of the foreign suspect,” he said.
Makama said security agencies would investigate the suspect’s role within the terrorist organisation, his movement into Nigeria, possible links to ISIS networks, and involvement in training, planning or media activities.
He described the arrest as a major intelligence breakthrough that could provide further information on the structure, financing and international connections of terrorist groups operating in the Lake Chad Basin.
The security analyst noted that while ISWAP largely consists of locally recruited fighters, intelligence reports over the years have indicated the involvement of foreign facilitators from different countries providing technical support in areas such as communications, training and explosives handling.
He, however, said military authorities were yet to release further details due to operational security concerns.
Operation HADIN KAI, he added, continues offensive operations across Borno aimed at disrupting terrorist movements, dismantling logistics networks and preventing insurgents from regaining operational footholds in the Lake Chad region.
