Troops of the Joint Task Force in the North East under Operation HADIN KAI say they have identified one Shariff Umar as the key coordinator behind a series of suicide bombing attacks in the region.
The military also announced the recovery of a large cache of high-calibre ammunition in the Bulumkutu Railway area of Maiduguri, Borno State, in what it described as another success of intelligence-driven operations.
In a statement issued in Maiduguri, the Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, said the breakthrough followed a cordon-and-search operation carried out at the Kalmari area of the state capital on December 31, 2025, during which fourteen suspects linked to suicide bombing activities were arrested.
According to the statement, investigations and detailed profiling of the suspects led to the identification of Shariff Umar, also known as Yusuf, as the ringleader of the terror network.
One of the suspects currently in custody, Ibrahim Muhammad, reportedly identified Umar as the person responsible for recruiting, training and deploying suicide bombers, as well as coordinating logistics and the supply of improvised explosive device components.
The military said Umar was directly linked to the suicide bombing attack at the Gamboru Market Mosque on December 24, 2025, where an accomplice identified as Adamu detonated a suicide vest.
He was also said to be behind a foiled suicide bombing attempt in Damaturu, during which he allegedly handed over explosive materials to a bomber in Maiduguri.
Further investigations, the statement added, revealed the involvement of Umar’s wife, Yagana Modu, while his stepdaughter, Amina, reportedly confirmed seeing a suspected bomber in their residence, exposing what the military described as domestic and community-based concealment tactics used by terror groups.
Lieutenant Colonel Uba said all the suspects remain in custody and are undergoing further investigations aimed at dismantling the entire network and recovering any remaining explosives or logistical assets.
He stressed that the development underscored the importance of cooperation between security agencies and the public.
In a related operation, troops uncovered 1,270 rounds of 12.7 millimetre ammunition, including live rounds and power banks, concealed inside a drainage channel in the Bulumkutu Railway area of Maiduguri.
The military explained that the discovery followed a distress call received around 3 p.m. on January 2, 2026, prompting the deployment of troops and police explosive ordnance disposal teams to secure the area.
The site has since been secured, with efforts ongoing to drain the drainage channel to check for additional dangerous items.
The military said no casualties were recorded and the general security situation in the area remains calm.
Operation HADIN KAI has again called on residents of the North East to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or objects to security agencies, noting that timely information from the public remains critical to preventing attacks and sustaining peace in the region.