Suspected Boko Haram informant confesses to spying on troops

A suspected Boko Haram informant has allegedly confessed to spying on the movements of Nigerian troops and supplying logistics to terrorists operating in northern Borno State.

This was contained in a post shared on X by security analyst, Zagazola Makama on Friday night.

According to the post, the suspect, identified as 25-year-old Muhammad Mustapha from Monguno Local Government Area, was arrested on July 16 during a night patrol and identification exercise by troops of Operation HADIN KAI.

The operation was carried out by personnel of the 403 Amphibious Brigade/130 Battalion (Motorised), working alongside the Nigerian Borderless Logistics Corps (NBLC) and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), under Operation DESERT SANITY V.

“During preliminary interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted that he belonged to a Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) cell operating in the Kadia area, north of Mairari town,”Makama wrote.

He also reportedly confessed that he was assigned by the terrorist group to monitor and gather intelligence on troops carrying out shoulder clearance operations along the Baga–Cross Kauwa Main Supply Route.

According to security sources quoted in the post, the suspect further admitted to serving as a logistics supplier and task collector for the terrorist group, helping to support insurgent activities in the Lake Chad region.

The post added that the suspect is currently in custody of the 403 Amphibious Brigade, where further investigation and intelligence gathering are ongoing.

Military sources described the arrest as another breakthrough in efforts to dismantle the intelligence and logistics networks that support terrorist operations in the North-East.

Makama added that although the security situation across the Operation HADIN KAI theatre remains generally calm, troops have continued to maintain a high level of vigilance because of the unpredictable nature of the insurgency.