Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a suspected foreign terrorist fighter and an alleged illegal immigrant in Borno State.

The arrests were made on Saturday, July 19, 2026, at about 11:48 a.m. during an intelligence-driven operation by troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion in Lassa, Dille General Area of Askira/Uba Local Government Area.

According to a statement from the Theatre Command, the suspects are Musa Fashir, a 32-year-old Sudanese national suspected to be a foreign terrorist fighter and collaborator, and Mary Florence, a 36-year-old woman who claimed to be from the Republic of Ghana.

The statement said preliminary intelligence indicated that Fashir had established links with terrorist elements, further highlighting attempts by foreign actors to support insurgent activities in the region.

It added that the circumstances surrounding Florence’s presence in the area, as well as the authenticity of her claims, are currently under investigation.

Both suspects are currently in military custody undergoing preliminary profiling and interrogation to establish their identities and ascertain possible links to terrorist or transnational criminal networks.

The Theatre Command said the arrests demonstrate the effectiveness of Operation HADIN KAI’s intelligence-driven operations and the vigilance of troops in denying terrorists and their collaborators freedom of action.

It reiterated the commitment of the troops to disrupting terrorist support networks, preventing the infiltration of foreign fighters, and safeguarding communities across the North East.

The Command also urged members of the public to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to help restore lasting peace and stability in the region.