…as investigators grill suspect in military facility
Troops have arrested a suspected foreign Islamic State (ISIS) operative believed to be an Arab of Moroccan origin, in Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, said that the suspect was arrested after troops repelled a coordinated terrorist assault on Cross Kauwa, forcing the insurgents to abandon equipment and flee.
Makama said troops immediately launched exploitation operations, extending search and pursuit missions along the terrorists’ withdrawal routes.
He said, “During the exploitation exercise conducted on Monday, troops recovered additional operational materials believed to have been abandoned during the insurgents’ hasty withdrawal.
“Among the items recovered were high-frequency hand-held radios (HHR), communication equipment considered crucial to the command and control structure of the terrorist group.
“According to the sources, intelligence gathered from the recovered materials enabled troops to expand the pursuit deep into the Lake Chad Islands (LCI) axis, extending operations towards Abadam Local Government Area.
“The operation culminated in the arrest of a fleeing foreign suspect believed to be an Arab of Moroccan origin with suspected links to the Islamic State (ISIS).
“Military sources disclosed that the suspect had earlier come under intelligence scrutiny following forensic exploitation conducted jointly with international partners on video footage extracted from a camcorder recovered after the Cross Kauwa encounter.
“The camcorder, according to the sources, belonged to a terrorist cameraman who was killed during the failed assault on Cross Kauwa.”
Makama said extremist groups often deploy media operatives alongside assault teams to document attacks for propaganda, recruitment and operational assessment.
The publication noted that footage recovered from the camcorder helped investigators identify the foreign suspect.
The suspect was airlifted by the Nigerian Air Force to a secure military facility, where he is undergoing interrogation and intelligence exploitation.
Makama reported that military authorities are expected to investigate his role within the terrorist organisation, how he entered Nigeria, his links to ISIS’ transnational network, and any involvement in training, operational planning or media production for ISWAP.
The arrest was reported as a significant intelligence breakthrough that could provide fresh insights into the structure, financing and international links of terrorist groups operating in the Lake Chad Basin.
Makama said the development also reinforces longstanding assessments by security agencies that foreign nationals continue to support extremist groups in the region, particularly in training, communications, media production, explosives handling and strategic coordination.
“While ISWAP remains largely composed of local fighters recruited from communities within the Lake Chad Basin, intelligence gathered over the years has indicated the presence of foreign facilitators from Iraq, Somalia and Morrocco serving as technical specialists linked to the wider Islamic State network,” Makama said.
“Military sources stressed that the interrogation of the suspect is still ongoing and that operational security considerations prevent the release of additional details at this stage.
“Officials noted that information obtained during the intelligence exploitation process could support ongoing counter-terrorism operations, identify additional terrorist cells and expose cross-border movement routes used by insurgent elements.”
