Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) has recorded a significant breakthrough in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism campaign with the identification of Shariff Umar, also known as Yusuf, as the principal coordinator of a deadly suicide bombing network operating in the North East.
The Joint Task Force disclosed that the breakthrough followed intelligence-led cordon-and-search operations conducted in the Kalmari area of Maiduguri on December 31, 2025, which led to the arrest of 14 suspects linked to recent suicide bombing attacks and failed attempts in the region.
In a statement issued by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, investigators were able to unravel the command structure and operational links of the terror cell after detailed profiling and interrogation of the suspects.
According to Lt. Col. Uba, a suspected suicide bomber currently in custody, Ibrahim Muhammad, directly identified Shariff Umar as the ringleader responsible for recruiting, training, directing and deploying suicide bombers to assigned targets. Umar was also said to have coordinated logistics, including the sourcing and delivery of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) components.
Investigations further revealed that Shariff Umar coordinated the December 24, 2025 suicide bombing attack at the Gamboru Market Mosque, where his accomplice, identified as Adamu, detonated a suicide vest and died in the process. He was also linked to a foiled suicide bombing attempt in Damaturu, during which he allegedly personally handed over IED components to a bomber in Maiduguri.
The military also uncovered family-based concealment within the network, with Umar’s wife, Yagana Modu, and his stepdaughter, Amina, implicated during investigations. The stepdaughter reportedly confirmed seeing the suspected suicide bomber within their residence, highlighting how terror networks exploit domestic and community cover to evade detection.
“All suspects are currently in custody and undergoing intensive, multi-layered investigations aimed at dismantling the entire network, identifying additional collaborators, and recovering any remaining explosives or logistical assets,” Lt. Col. Uba said.
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He stressed that the operation underscores the importance of sustained intelligence gathering and cooperation between security agencies and civilians, noting that terrorist groups often thrive by embedding themselves within communities.
The military therefore urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or activities, describing public trust and collaboration as critical to restoring lasting peace in the North East.
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