Military uncovers mastermind of Maiduguri mosque bombing
Troops seize cache of 12.7mm ammunition in Maiduguri
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has sustained a series of intelligence-driven air interdiction operations across the North-East and North-West, neutralising terrorist elements and degrading their logistics and operational networks.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said in a statement yesterday that the operations were conducted between Jan. 1 and 2 under Operations HADIN KAI and FASAN YAMMA Sector 2.
Ejodame said the air strikes were based on actionable intelligence on terrorist movement, hideouts and logistics, with NAF aircraft engaging identified enclaves, routes and assembly areas to deny the groups freedom of action.
He said in the North-East theatre, NAF aircraft carried out precision strikes on terrorist hideouts at Abirma and Chiralia in the Timbuktu Triangle, following sustained surveillance that confirmed the presence of facilities linked to improvised explosive device (IED) production and attack planning.
According to him, the strikes destroyed the targeted structures, with multiple secondary explosions observed, indicating the destruction of explosive stockpiles and logistics.
Ejodame added that further interdiction missions at Guva in the Mandara Mountains dismantled additional terrorist storage and coordination points, significantly weakening the groups’ capacity to regroup or mount attacks.
He said the operations were extended to the North-West, where NAF aircraft struck terrorist elements around Karaduwa Giginya Na in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The NAF spokesman said the terrorists, who were tracked moving in large motorcycle convoys, were engaged at a forested convergence point, leading to the neutralisation of several fighters, destruction of multiple motorcycles and recovery of assorted weapons.
He said the sustained air operations underscored the NAF’s resolve to support joint forces on the ground and dismantle terrorist networks across the country.
The war against terrorists further got a boost with the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) uncovering the ringleader behind the recent suicide bombings and attempted attacks in the North East.
The DHQ identified the suspect as Shariff Umar.
According to reports, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive inside a mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, on December 24, 2025, killing five people and injuring 35 others during evening prayers.
Although no group claimed responsibility for the attack amid growing security concerns in the North East, the military arrested some suspects linked to the incident.
Boko Haram and its splinter groups, including the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have waged a 15-year campaign of violence targeting civilians, military bases, mosques, and markets.
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the Media Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), which oversees military operations in the North East, said yesterday that 14 suspects linked to suicide bombing activities were arrested during cordon-and-search operations in the Kalmari area of Maiduguri on December 31.
Uba said that following the arrests, detailed identification and investigative processes established the structure, roles, and operational linkages of the terror cell.
He said: “During the investigation, a suspected suicide bomber currently in custody, Ibrahim Muhammad, unequivocally identified Shariff Umar (also known as “Yusuf”) as the ringleader and coordinator of the terror network. According to consistent and corroborated statements, Shariff Umar was responsible for recruiting, preparing, directing, and dispatching suicide bombers to assigned targets, as well as coordinating logistics and delivery of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) components.
“Investigations further revealed that Shariff Umar directly coordinated the suicide bombing attack at the Gamboru Market Mosque on 24 December 2025, during which his accomplice, Adamu (now deceased), detonated a suicide vest. He was also identified as the coordinator of the foiled suicide bombing attempt in Damaturu, personally handing over IED components to the suicide bomber in Maiduguri.
“Additional links within the network were established, including the involvement of Shariff Umar’s wife, Yagana Modu, and the confirmation by his stepdaughter, Amina, who admitted to previously seeing the suspect bomber within their residence. These findings significantly strengthened the investigative trail and exposed the domestic and community-based concealment methods employed by terrorist facilitators.”
The military spokesperson said all suspects remain “firmly in custody and are undergoing intensive, multi-layered investigations aimed at fully dismantling the network,” identifying additional collaborators, and recovering any remaining explosives or logistical assets.
Uba urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons, movements, or activities to security agencies.
“Cooperation and trust between troops of OPHK and local communities are essential to completely rooting out terrorism and restoring lasting peace across the region,” he said.
The terrorists were also dealt a deadly blow by the Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) which recovered a large cache of high-calibre ammunition in the Bulumkutu Railway area of Maiduguri, Borno State.
The recovered items include 1,270 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition warheads, some live 12.7mm rounds, and power banks concealed in a drainage channel.
The operation followed a cordon-and-search exercise based on actionable intelligence aimed at denying terrorists freedom of action.
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North-East) Operation HADIN KAI in a statement said , the recovery underscores the importance of intelligence-led operations and community cooperation in preventing potential threats.
Lt. Col. Uba explained that the operation was done alongside troops and Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams who secured the area and are working to drain the channel to determine if there are additional dangerous items.
He noted that the operation is part of sustained efforts to dominate the general area, protect critical infrastructure, and ensure resident safety. The security situation remains calm, with troops maintaining vigilance.
The statement urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious items or movements to security agencies, as collective responsibility is vital to sustaining peace and security in the North-East.
