By Gabriel Ameh
Military Foils Deadly IED Attack, Recovers Arms and Arrests Suspected Terrorist in Borno
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have thwarted a planned terrorist attack and recovered arms and ammunition during ongoing counter-terrorism operations in Borno State.
The military disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba.
According to the statement, troops operating under Operation DESERT SANITY/VIGILANT SIEGE discovered an improvised explosive device (IED) planted along a route behind the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp near a military location in Ladari.
The military said the explosive device was suspected to have been planted by terrorists to target reinforcement teams and military vehicles operating within the area.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) experts were immediately deployed to the scene and safely detonated the IED without any casualty or damage.
In a separate operation, troops conducting patrols along the Ladari riverbanks uncovered an abandoned cache of weapons and ammunition.
Items recovered included one Browning pistol, one locally fabricated pistol, 26 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and seven cartridges.
Meanwhile, troops of Sector 3, working alongside operatives of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), arrested a 15-year-old suspected terrorist identified as Umar Zacharria in Gubio town, Borno State.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect was allegedly linked to terrorist activities along the Kareto axis, where several motorists have reportedly been attacked in recent weeks.
The suspect is currently in military custody for further investigation.
The Joint Task Force said the operations demonstrate the military’s sustained offensive against terrorist groups in the North East, aimed at denying insurgents freedom of movement and restoring peace across the region.
The Military High Command commended the troops for their professionalism, resilience, and commitment, urging them to maintain the momentum in ongoing operations against insurgency in the North East.
