Nigerian Troops Arrest Suspected Sudanese Terrorist Collaborator, Ghanaian Woman in Borno

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested two foreign nationals during a security operation in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, in what the Nigerian military described as another breakthrough in its ongoing counter-terrorism campaign across the North-East.

According to the military, the suspects include 32-year-old Sudanese national Musa Fashir, who is suspected of being a foreign terrorist fighter and collaborator, and Mary Florence, a 36-year-old Ghanaian woman identified as an alleged illegal immigrant.

In a statement issued by the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Muhammed Goni, the arrests were carried out by troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion at approximately 11:48 a.m. on July 19, 2026, during an intelligence-led operation in the Lassa, Dille General Area of Askira/Uba.

The military said preliminary investigations suggest that Fashir may have established links with terrorist groups operating in the region, raising concerns about the involvement of foreign actors in supporting insurgent activities in Nigeria’s North-East.

Mary Florence, meanwhile, claimed to be an illegal immigrant from Ghana. Security authorities said they are investigating the circumstances surrounding her presence in the area and verifying her identity and claims.

Both suspects are currently in military custody, where they are undergoing profiling and interrogation to determine the extent of their activities and establish any possible connections to terrorist organisations or transnational criminal networks.

Operation Hadin Kai said the arrests demonstrate the effectiveness of its intelligence-driven operations and reaffirm its commitment to disrupting terrorist logistics, preventing the infiltration of foreign fighters, and dismantling support networks that sustain insurgency.

The military also urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing credible and timely intelligence, stressing that community cooperation remains essential to restoring lasting peace and security across Nigeria’s North-East.