Foreign Mercenaries Infiltrate Military Operations in North-East

Strategic Insights -

Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, has admitted that foreign mercenaries are infiltrating the military's operations in the North-East, exacerbating the threat posed by terrorist groups like ISWAP and Boko Haram. The mercenaries facilitate tactical and strategic training for these terrorists, leading to the use of drones in the theatre. Abubakar called for an immediate coordinated response, including intensified intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations, and strong collaboration between Nigeria and neighboring nations to disrupt the cross-border support network.

Key Takeaways:

  • Foreign mercenaries are infiltrating the military's operations in the North-East, facilitating tactical and strategic training for terrorist groups like ISWAP and Boko Haram.
  • The mercenaries have enabled the use of drones in the theatre, escalating the threat posed by terrorist groups.
  • Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar called for an immediate coordinated response, including intensified intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations, and strong collaboration between Nigeria and neighboring nations to disrupt the cross-border support network.
  • The Nigerian military has arrested 18 serving soldiers and 15 policemen for selling arms to non-state actors, with a total of 8 civilians, including a traditional ruler, also arrested.
  • Preliminary findings from the investigation reveal community pressure and the lucrative nature of trading in ammunition as driving factors for arms racketeering.
  • The theatre has recorded over 186 terrorist logistics suppliers, spies, and collaborators arrested across the theatre of operation since January 2025.
  • The Joint Intelligence Mission Centre and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intensified efforts to disrupt networks supplying drugs and narcotics to terrorists.
  • The activities of fifth columnists, including some soldiers motivated by greed, undermine the overall success of Operation Hadin Kai.

Statistics:

  • 694 terrorists killed in Borno by troops of Operation Hadin Kai.
  • 603 assault weapons, 56 RPG bombs, 16 mortar bombs, 147,137 units of anti-aircraft weapons, and 16 pickup vehicles recovered by the military.
  • 12 drone incidents recorded by the Joint Task Force since 2004.
  • Over 10,000 locals successfully returned to their ancestral homes in Kukawa town following the operation Hadin Kai stabilisation operation.
  • N45 million and N34 million discovered in the accounts of two soldiers involved in arms racketeering.
  • N135 million found to have passed through the account of a policeman involved in arms racketeering.

Sources:

  • Defence Correspondents
  • Operation Hadin Kai
  • Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar
  • Brig.-Gen. Adamu Ibrahim
  • Maj. Ademola Owolana
  • Joint Task Force
  • National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
  • Nigerian Army