Troops of the Northeast Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation HADIN KAI, have arrested a serving Nigerian Army soldier who was declared wanted over his alleged involvement in the illegal supply of military accoutrements to terrorists and other criminal elements operating in the North-East.

The suspect, identified as Private Mohammed Yusuf of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Kits Factory, Lagos, was apprehended by troops of the 7 Provost Group at about 6:30 p.m. on July 25 at Jidari Bus Stop in Maiduguri, Borno State, while allegedly attempting to flee to the Republic of Cameroon.

Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Capt. Muhammed Goni, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that the arrest followed credible human intelligence.

According to Goni, the soldier had been declared wanted by the Nigerian Army on July 23 over allegations of illegally supplying military uniforms and other accoutrements to terrorists and other criminal elements.

He said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect absconded from his unit on July 7 before relocating to Maiduguri, where he allegedly went into hiding in the Gomari Costain area of Jere Local Government Area with the assistance of an associate.

“The suspect is currently in the custody of the 7 Provost Group, where further investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of his activities and identify other individuals who may have been involved,” Goni said.

The military noted that the arrest underscores the Nigerian Army’s commitment to rooting out misconduct within its ranks and dismantling criminal networks that undermine national security, stressing that personnel found aiding terrorists or diverting military equipment would face the full weight of the law.