Men of the Nigerian Army have arrested a citizen of Sudan found to be a terrorist fighting on the side of the Islamic insurgents, Boko Haram, in Borno State.
The army also arrested a female immigrant from Ghana inside a forest in the state.
Troops of Sector 4, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), apprehended the Sudanese, Musa Fashir, aged 32 years, as well as the female illegal immigrant, Mary Florence, aged 36 years, during a security operation in Lassa, Dille General Area of Askira/Uba Local Government Area of the state.
The operation that led to their arrest was carried out by troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion at about 11:48 a.m on Sunday, July 19, as part of ongoing intelligence driven operations in the North-East Theatre.
“During the operation, troops arrested Musa Fashir, a Sudanese national suspected to be a foreign terrorist fighter and collaborator. Preliminary intelligence indicates that the suspect has established links with terrorist elements, further highlighting attempts by foreign actors to support insurgent activities in the region,” the Nigerian Army said in a statement on Monday, July 20.
Additionally, the troops apprehended Mary Florence who claimed to be an illegal immigrant from Ghana while the circumstances surrounding her presence in the area, as well as the authenticity of her claims are currently being investigated.
“Both suspects are in military custody undergoing preliminary profiling and interrogation to establish their identities, determine the extent of their activities, and ascertain any possible links to terrorist or transnational criminal networks,” the army added.
