Troops Arrest 65-yr-old Woman Over Alleged Drug Supply To Boko Haram Terrorists

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation HADIN KAI, have arrested a 65-year-old woman, Hauwa Abulazeez, for allegedly supplying illicit drugs to Boko Haram insurgents operating in parts of Borno State.

The arrest was carried out on January 23, 2026, in Askira Uba local government area of Borno State, following credible intelligence, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North-East) Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba.

The military said the suspect was “one of the suppliers of cannabis sativa to Boko Haram terrorist elements” operating in Askira Uba and surrounding communities, including Rumirgo, Gwahi, Wamdiyo, Uvu and Gaya, and described her as “a key conduit in the distribution of the substance across several communities within the Theatre.”

Preliminary investigations, the statement noted, indicated that Hauwa Abulazeez allegedly sourced the illicit drugs from Sarti Baruwa local government area of Taraba State and transported them through established supply routes for onward distribution.

During the operation conducted under Operation Desert Sanity V, troops recovered “14 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa, with an estimated total weight of approximately 30 kilograms,” which the military said represented “a significant interception intended to sustain illicit activities.”

The suspect is currently in custody and undergoing preliminary investigation, while “follow-up actions are ongoing to identify and dismantle the wider network involved in the trafficking and distribution of the substance,” the military added.

According to the statement, the interception “underscores the broader impact of denying illicit supply chains that fuel violence, criminality and instability,” adding that disrupting such networks contributes to improved security and the reinforcement of lawful authority across the region.

Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed that it remained “unwavering in its resolve to confront and eliminate all forms of criminality across the North East,” stressing that sustained intelligence-driven operations will continue until “enduring peace and stability are achieved.”