Troops operating under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have arrested 18 individuals suspected of supplying logistics to insurgents. The suspects were reportedly travelling towards Gubio, with plans to continue to the Gudumbali axis—an area widely regarded as a stronghold of Boko Haram fighters.

This was disclosed in a daily operational update released to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.

According to the military, the group was intercepted while en route to deliver various items intended for the terrorists. Initial findings from investigations indicated that all 18 suspects admitted to being involved in the supply chain supporting the insurgent group.

The report noted that the suspects confessed to regularly purchasing and transporting goods to the militants. They attributed their involvement to unemployment, a factor the army said reflects broader socio-economic difficulties affecting Maiduguri and surrounding communities.

The military further stated that the incident reinforces recent comments made by the Chief of Defence Staff regarding the connection between economic hardship and the persistence of insurgency logistics networks.

It added that the arrests underscore the significant role played by civilian collaborators in sustaining terrorist activities, especially in remote locations such as Gubio and Gudumbali.

In response, the army emphasized the need for a holistic strategy that goes beyond military action, advocating for economic empowerment initiatives and job creation as essential measures to tackle the underlying causes of insurgency in the region.