The Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force, North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sanni Uba, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, noting that the suspect was apprehended in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation Hadin Kai, have arrested a 65-year-old woman, Hauwa Abulazeez, for her alleged involvement in supplying illicit drugs to Boko Haram terrorists operating in parts of the North-East.
The Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force, North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sanni Uba, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, noting that the suspect was apprehended in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
“Troops of the Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), under Operation Desert Sanity V, have recorded another significant success in efforts to degrade terrorist logistics and criminal support networks in the North-East,” the statement said.
“Acting on credible intelligence on January 23, 2026, troops arrested a suspected drug dealer, Hauwa Abulazeez, aged 65, in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
“The suspect is alleged to be one of the suppliers of cannabis sativa to Boko Haram terrorist elements operating in Askira Uba, Rumirgo, Gwahi, Wamdiyo, Uvu and Gaya, and a key conduit in the distribution of the substance across several communities within the theatre.”
Uba said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect sourced the illicit substance from Sarti Baruwa Local Government Area of Taraba State and transported it through established supply routes for onward distribution.
“During the operation, 14 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa, with an estimated total weight of about 30 kilogrammes, were recovered, representing a significant interception intended to sustain illicit activities,” he said.
The statement added that the suspect is currently in custody and undergoing preliminary investigation, while follow-up operations are ongoing to identify and dismantle the wider trafficking and distribution network.
The Army said the interception underscored the importance of denying illicit supply chains that fuel violence, criminality and instability in the region.
“By disrupting these networks, the operation contributes to improved security conditions, reduced criminal influence, and the reinforcement of lawful authority and order across the region,” the statement added.
Uba assured of the troops’ unwavering commitment to confronting and eliminating all forms of criminality in the North-East.
“Through sustained intelligence-driven operations and continuous pressure across the theatre, troops will persist in denying criminal networks the space, resources and freedom required to operate until enduring peace and stability are achieved,” he said.
SaharaReporters also reported a similar incident in Zamfara State, where operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted a woman transporting live ammunition believed to be intended for bandits terrorizing parts of the North-West.
It was gathered that the woman was apprehended during a routine stop-and-search operation along the Tsafe–Gusau highway.
The suspect, believed to hail from Birnin Magaji Local Government Area, had allegedly hidden the live ammunition inside her luggage in an attempt to smuggle it through Tsafe.
The Chairman of Tsafe Local Government, Malam Garba Shehu, confirmed the arrest, describing it as “a major breakthrough in the ongoing clampdown on criminal logistics and arms trafficking networks” across Zamfara.
“I want to appreciate the NDLEA operatives for their vigilance and dedication. This arrest has prevented dangerous ammunition from reaching criminal elements threatening peace in our communities,” Shehu said, according to Zagazola Makama.
He also pledged continued support to security agencies operating in the area, adding that anyone found aiding crime or banditry would face the full weight of the law.
“As a local government, we will continue to provide whatever support is necessary to ensure law enforcement officers carry out their duties effectively,” he said.