Nigerian Troops Arrest Teenage ISWAP Courier Following Strategic Airstrikes in Borno

By Babatunji Wusu

In a significant breakthrough for national security, troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have apprehended a 15-year-old boy suspected of acting as a logistics courier for the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The arrest took place in Ngamdu, Borno State, on Sunday, as the teenager was allegedly attempting to purchase supplies for insurgents stationed along the Ngamdu–Benisheik corridor.

During preliminary interrogations, the suspect reportedly confessed to his involvement in recent violent attacks on Benisheik and Ngamdu. He revealed that the insurgent groups typically mobilize from a known enclave in Jilli, located within the Gubio Local Government Area, before launching their strikes. At the time of his capture, the youth was found in possession of N850,000, which he claimed was intended for procuring essential logistics for other fighters.

This arrest follows closely on the heels of precision airstrikes conducted by the Air Component of OPHK in the Jilli axis. Military sources confirmed that these strikes, backed by intensive Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, successfully destroyed insurgent vehicles and motorcycles while neutralizing several terrorists. The suspect noted that he had left the Jilli enclave just before the strikes but could not confirm the current state of the camp following the military’s aerial bombardment.

However, the operation has not been without controversy. Amidst reports of potential civilian casualties resulting from the air raids, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has officially launched an investigation. Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Director of Public Relations and Information for the NAF, stated on Sunday that the authorities are looking into the allegations to ensure transparency. Despite these challenges, military leadership remains committed to using coordinated ground and air offensives to dismantle the logistics networks that sustain insurgency in the North East.

Do you believe the recruitment of minors by insurgent groups requires a shift in how the military handles captured youth suspects?

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