A suspected notorious terrorists’ collaborator identified as Abubakar Usman, alias Buba, on a mission to lure and murder repentant terrorists has been arrested by troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).

The suspect was tracked and arrested on June 16, 2026 at the GSS IDPs Camp in Gwoza town, Gwoza Local Government Area of  Borno State.

“The suspect confessed his mission was to lure repentant terrorists back to the Mandara Mountains to murder them,” Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, the Director Defence Media Operations (DMO), disclosed this on Friday while giving update on troops operations nationwide between June 12 and June 18, 2026.

Onoja said that in Kwara State, following sustained monitoring that revealed the movement of the wife of a notorious terrorist kingpin Auta Ilori, towards his camp, troops of Operation Savannah Shield in the North Central on June 16, conducted a targeted operation leading to the interception and arrest of Mrs. Hafsatu Alh Bello, aged 27, at a settlement near Ndeji town in Edu Local Government Area.

He said the woman was arrested with her three children, along with one Lawali Oro, his wife Hauwa’u Muhammad, and two children at whose residence she had been sheltering overnight.

“During preliminary interrogation, Mrs Bello admitted awareness of her husband’s activities as a terrorist and kidnapper, providing a significant lead.”

Onoja said troops also arrested four suspected terrorists in front of a Correctional Farm Centre at Goma, along the Ogbomoso–Oko Road in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area of Oyo State.

“Preliminary profiling revealed incriminating photographs on mobile phones of two suspects’ showing them dressed in military camouflage and carrying AK-47 rifles. One suspect also allegedly confessed to involvement in terrorist activities.”

He said during the period, a total of 26 terrorists/informants/collaborators, crude oil thieves and other criminal elements were arrested, seven neutralised, and 17 kidnapped victims rescued. “The rescue of several citizens from unlawful captivity and neutralising networks of economic saboteurs, gunrunners, and terrorists, indicate troops sustained duty to protect the nation,” the DMO said.

Onoja said the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY) provided support to ground troops on June 12, 2026 when the Abuja to Kaduna train service developed a technical fault.

“A NAF helicopter provided air cover, patrolling the Kaduna – Abuja Main Supply Route, the adjoining rail track, and the Rijana and Katari general areas. The mission was extended to include a patrol over the perimeter of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, before the aircraft returned to base.”

The DMO said as part of Civil-Military Cooperation during the period, troops reached out to host communities by distributing 40 bags of fertiliser to selected farmers at Dahuwa Primary School, Chamo District in Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State, to support agricultural productivity and strengthen ties with local communities.

The initiative, he said, reflects the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s broader policy of complementing combat operations with deliberate community development and welfare support, in line with the Chief of Defence Staff’s directive to all theatre commanders to fully integrate Civil-Military Cooperation into operational activities nationwide.