A 28-year-old man, Abdullahi Saidu Buba, was arrested in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State on June 1 after being spotted with suspected armed terrorists. Troops of Operation Hadin Kai intercepted Buba near the location of Charlie Company, 196 Amphibious Battalion, following a surveillance operation involving a tactical drone operated by the Naval Brigade Lake Chad. Security sources said Buba was tracked after the drone observed him in the company of individuals believed to be members of Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). At the time of arrest, he was carrying a wristwatch, lighter, bottle of cow milk (nono), power bank, Android smartphone, paracetamol tablets, a Fulani hat and N30,000 in cash.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency and security expert in the Lake Chad region, military intelligence led to the arrest. Buba, a cattle rearer from Kwatan Yobe in Kukawa, told interrogators he travels frequently between Dumba and Baga to visit his sick brother, Illiasu. He admitted to receiving N1,000 from suspected terrorists to buy bread for them during one of these trips. The military has not disclosed charges or court proceedings, but confirmed Buba remains in custody as investigations continue. No other suspects were apprehended in the operation.
Abdullahi Saidu Buba claims he only delivered bread for terrorists in exchange for N1,000, yet was found with N30,000 and electronic devices suggesting deeper involvement. His frequent movement between Dumba and Baga raises questions about monitoring of high-risk zones. The military holds him on suspicion of aiding ISWAP, but his stated purpose for travel contrasts sharply with the cash and gadgets he carried. This discrepancy could complicate efforts to determine the true extent of civilian collaboration in the region.
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