Troops of the Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation Hadin Kai, have arrested a 15-year-old suspect over his alleged involvement in a deadly insurgent attack in Borno State that resulted in the killing of a Nigerian Army brigadier-general and three other soldiers.
The suspect, identified simply as Tijjani, was apprehended on Sunday in Ngamdu while reportedly attempting to buy food supplies for members of his group, according to military sources familiar with the operation.
The arrest comes days after a violent assault on a military formation in the North-East, an incident that has further heightened concerns over the persistence of insurgent threats in the region despite ongoing counterterrorism operations.
Security officials said Tijjani is linked to the attack that led to the death of Brigadier-General Oseni Braimah, the commander of the 29 Task Force Brigade under Operation Hadin Kai.
The senior officer was killed on Thursday alongside three other soldiers when suspected Boko Haram insurgents reportedly launched a coordinated assault on a military base.
The attack is believed to be part of a broader pattern of renewed militant activity targeting security formations in parts of Borno State, where Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) elements continue to operate in pockets of remote terrain.
Military authorities have not yet released a detailed operational briefing on the incident, but security sources say the assault involved heavy exchanges of gunfire and infiltration tactics commonly used by insurgent groups in the region.
In a video circulating on social media, the suspect reportedly spoke in Hausa, giving details of his alleged involvement in previous operations linked to the insurgent network.
He said he was arrested at Ngamdu and claimed participation in attacks carried out in Benisheik and Ngamdu—two communities that have experienced repeated insurgent violence over the years.
According to his account, he was dispatched from Jilli with ₦850,000 to collect logistics support for the group before being intercepted by troops during movement.
Before the attack, we came from Jilli and returned there after the attack. I was sent from Jilli yesterday with N850,000 to collect some logistics from Ngamdu, but I was arrested by troops,” he said in the video.
He also claimed that he had left other members of his group behind in Jilli, adding that he was unsure of their current situation following the military operation.
The authenticity of the video and the circumstances under which the statement was obtained have not been independently verified.
The Nigerian Army has yet to issue an official statement confirming the arrest or providing full operational details regarding the suspect’s role in the attack.
However, military sources say the suspect is currently in custody and undergoing interrogation as part of broader efforts to track down members of the network allegedly responsible for the assault.
Security analysts note that the use of teenagers in insurgent operations remains a recurring concern in the North-East, where armed groups have been accused of recruiting vulnerable youths for logistics, reconnaissance, and combat support roles.
They also warn that such recruitment patterns complicate counterinsurgency operations, particularly in communities where insurgents blend into civilian populations.
Operation Hadin Kai, which replaced Operation Lafiya Dole, has continued military pressure on insurgent groups in Borno and surrounding states, leading to the surrender of some fighters and the disruption of several cells.
However, sporadic attacks on military bases, ambushes on patrols, and assaults on civilian communities persist, underscoring the resilience of insurgent networks in the Lake Chad basin region.
The killing of a senior officer in the latest attack has renewed concerns within security circles about evolving insurgent tactics and intelligence gaps in certain operational corridors.
The arrest of a teenage suspect has also reignited debate on the humanitarian dimension of the conflict, particularly the exploitation of minors in armed violence.
Child rights advocates have repeatedly called for stronger rehabilitation frameworks for children linked to insurgent groups, arguing that many are coerced or indoctrinated at a young age.
Security experts say that beyond military action, addressing underlying drivers such as poverty, displacement, and lack of education remains critical to reducing recruitment into extremist networks.
Authorities are expected to intensify investigations into the attack and expand operations targeting suspected insurgent cells operating across Borno’s forested and border areas.
The military has also reiterated its commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist groups while urging communities to provide credible intelligence that could assist ongoing operations.
For now, the arrest of Tijjani adds another layer to the complex security landscape in Nigeria’s North-East, where the fight against insurgency continues amid evolving threats and persistent instability.
