Security forces under Operation Hadin Kai have arrested 18 individuals suspected of supplying logistics to insurgents in Borno State, as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist networks in the North-East.
The suspects were reportedly intercepted while heading towards Gubio, with indications they were en route to the Gudumbali axis—an area long identified as a stronghold of Boko Haram elements.
According to a military operational update released on Wednesday, the group was apprehended in transit with items allegedly meant for delivery to the terrorists.
Preliminary findings revealed that the suspects admitted to their involvement in ferrying supplies to the insurgent group.
“They admitted that they routinely purchase and convey items to the terrorists.
“Their justification was lack of employment, which points to a deeper socio-economic challenge in Maiduguri and its environs,” the army said.
The report noted that the arrests reinforce earlier concerns raised by the Chief of Defence Staff regarding the connection between economic hardship and the persistence of insurgency logistics networks.
It further stressed that civilian collaborators continue to play a significant role in sustaining terrorist operations, particularly in hard-to-reach communities like Gubio and Gudumbali.
The military, therefore, advocated a multi-dimensional response, urging authorities to complement security operations with robust economic empowerment initiatives and job creation programmes to tackle the underlying drivers of insurgency in the region.
