Aji Dala, a suspected terrorist informant, was allegedly captured in Borno State by Sector 3 Operation, Hadin Kai troops working with the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
A counter-insurgency journal that focuses on the Lake Chad area, Zagazola Makama, reports that the 45-year-old suspect was apprehended in the state’s Monguno Local Government Area on Tuesday.
The 242 Battalion worked with intelligence agents in the Charamari region to make the arrest.
According to the report, Dala’s detention is related to a supposed letter from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) detailing their strategy for attacking Monguno town on November 17, 2023. Amir Hallat Muhammad signed the letter alerting the locals of an approaching attack.
According to the magazine, the alleged letter caused fear among the Monguno locals. But as time went on, it became clear that the message was an intentional attempt to sow panic and anxiety by ISWAP members.
“They’ve attempted it before and utterly failed. Permit them one more attempt. They are buried in Monguno. They are aware of it themselves,” a military insider stated.
In a similar event, six ISWAP members were effectively neutralised in their enclaves in the Borno State villages of Gime and Muzuri by the forces of 7 Division and Sector 1 of Operation Hadin Kai during a separate operation.
Thirty women and forty-eight children were among the 78 abduction victims rescued as a result of the operation.
AK-47 rifles and three Dane guns were among the several weapons found during the raid.