TROOPS INTERCEPT VEHICLE CARRYING SUSPECTED ISWAP SUPPLIES IN NORTH EAST

Nigerian military forces have intercepted a vehicle believed to be transporting supplies destined for the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist group.

The information was shared in a post on X on Tuesday by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency and security expert focused on the Lake Chad region. Makama reported that the operation was carried out by troops from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Chabbal as part of Operation HADIN KAI in the North East.

According to Makama, intelligence sources informed him that on February 26, the troops, while conducting routine checkpoint and search operations, halted a Toyota pickup truck on the Maiduguri–Gubio main supply route.

The report indicated that during the search, troops discovered large quantities of textile materials allegedly used by terrorists, 20 Hilux tyre tubes, motorcycle spare parts, 10 cutlasses, and three mobile phones. All the items were concealed under planks in the vehicle. The tyres were also suspected to be connected to ISWAP’s logistical operations.

“Three male occupants of the vehicle were apprehended and, along with the seized items, were handed over to the 7 Mechanised Infantry Brigade for further investigation and intelligence gathering,” Makama stated.

The security expert highlighted that the arrest and seizure were part of ongoing efforts to disrupt ISWAP’s supply chains and reduce terrorist activities in the North East region.