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Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a suspected ISWAP member transporting motorcycle tyres and other maintenance spares from the Timbuktu triangle, military sources confirmed on Thursday.
During interrogation, the suspect admitted his affiliation with the group.
“I am from the Markas of Kauwa, under the leadership of Hamzala and assisted by Abu Umar. I buy tyres from Bajoga in Gombe State and move them through Kukuwa, Gumsa, Azare, and across to Buratai before returning to Timbuktu,” he said in a video shared by security analyst Zagazola Makama.
He added, “I buy motorcycle tyres for 13,000 naira and sell them wholesale for 25,000 naira. I also buy plugs for 3,000 naira and sell for 600 naira, while in Nigeria, we buy at 350 naira.”
The suspect further revealed that some ISWAP commanders had recently been neutralised in Timbuktu, naming Ibba, Dusula, and Farouk enclaves as affected areas.
Asked about his intentions to leave the group, he reportedly said, “I was planning to surrender immediately after the Ramadan fast, but I was caught.”
Military command at Operation HADIN KAI emphasized that this arrest reflects ongoing efforts to disrupt insurgents’ logistics and supply chains across the North-East. The operation is part of broader intelligence-led measures to weaken ISWAP’s operational capacity in the region.
