Troops of the 196 Amphibious Battalion under Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a 50-year-old woman in Borno State for allegedly attempting to smuggle food and hijabs to her son, a suspected member of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Security sources said the arrest took place during a routine checkpoint operation at the C Company 7 Platoon position in Kukawa Local Government Area on May 20, 2026.
The suspect, identified as Mrs. Kellu Alhaji Abba, a resident of Lawanti near Baga, was intercepted while moving supplies along a bush path believed to lead to insurgent hideouts.
Items recovered from her included packaged high-nutrient food supplies, two female hijabs allegedly meant for disguise or operational use, and a wristwatch. Military officials said the supplies were intended for her son, a suspected fighter operating in the Dumba axis.
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The woman was immediately taken into custody for interrogation to uncover possible support networks linked to insurgent activities in the region.
Authorities under Operation HADIN KAI said operations across the theatre remain ongoing, with troops maintaining surveillance to disrupt logistics channels that sustain terrorist groups in the Lake Chad basin.
The military noted that the arrest highlights continued efforts to cut off supply routes and local assistance networks fueling insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East.
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