Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), under Operation DESERT SANITY V, have recorded another major success in their ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist logistics and criminal support networks in the region.
Acting on credible intelligence on January 23, 2026, troops arrested a suspected drug dealer, Hauwa Abulazeez, aged 65, in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The suspect is alleged to be a key supplier of cannabis sativa to Boko Haram terrorist elements operating across Askira Uba, Rumirgo, Gwahi, Wamdiyo, Uvu and Gaya communities.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the illicit drugs were reportedly sourced from Sarti Baruwa Local Government Area of Taraba State and transported through established supply routes for distribution within the North East theatre of operations.
During the operation, troops recovered 14 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa, weighing approximately 30 kilograms, a seizure authorities say was intended to sustain terrorist and criminal activities.
The suspect is currently in military custody undergoing preliminary investigation, while follow-up operations are ongoing to identify, track and dismantle the wider drug trafficking and distribution network.
The military said the interception highlights the importance of cutting off illicit supply chains that fuel terrorism, violence and instability, noting that such actions contribute significantly to improved security and the restoration of law and order in the region.
OPHK reaffirmed its commitment to sustained, intelligence-driven operations aimed at eliminating all forms of criminality in the North East until lasting peace and stability are achieved.
