Troops Recover Arms, Arrest Suspected Terrorist In North-East Operations

 

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have thwarted a planned terrorist attack, recovered arms and ammunition, and arrested a suspected terrorist during coordinated operations under Operation DESERT SANITY/VIGILANT SIEGE across the North-East.

In a statement issued on Thursday by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, troops successfully discovered and neutralised an improvised explosive device (IED) planted along a route behind the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp near a military location in Ladari.

The statement said the explosive device was suspected to have been planted to target military reinforcement teams and operational vehicles. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialists safely detonated the IED in-situ without any casualty.

The military also disclosed that troops conducting strangulation operations along the Ladari riverbanks uncovered an abandoned cache of arms and ammunition. Recovered items included one Browning pistol, one locally fabricated pistol, 26 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and seven cartridges.

In a related development, troops of Sector 3, working in collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) operatives, arrested a 15-year-old suspected terrorist identified as Umar Zacharria in Gubio town.

Preliminary investigations, according to the military, linked the suspect to terrorist activities along the Kareto axis, where motorists have reportedly been attacked by insurgents. The suspect is currently in military custody for further investigation.

The Joint Task Force stated that the operations form part of sustained offensives aimed at denying terrorists freedom of action across the theatre of Operation HADIN KAI.

The military high command reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling terrorist networks, neutralising security threats, and restoring lasting peace, security, and economic stability in the North-East region.

It also commended troops for their professionalism, resilience, and dedication, urging them to sustain the ongoing operational momentum in the interest of national security.