Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested a 65-year-old woman, Hauwa Abulazeez, over her alleged involvement in supplying illicit drugs to Boko Haram terrorists operating in parts of Borno State.
The arrest was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by the spokesperson of the Joint Task Force, North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant-Colonel Sanni Uba.
According to the statement, the suspect was apprehended in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State during an intelligence-led operation conducted under Operation Desert Sanity on January 23, 2026.
Uba said preliminary investigations revealed that Abulazeez is suspected to be a key supplier of cannabis sativa to Boko Haram elements operating in Askira Uba, Rumirgo, Gwahi, Wamdiyo, Uvu and Gaya communities.
He described the suspect as a major conduit in the distribution of the illicit substance across several locations within the theatre of operation in the North-East.
The arrest followed credible intelligence indicating the suspect’s involvement in drug trafficking activities linked to terrorist logistics, the statement said.
Preliminary findings further indicated that the suspect allegedly sourced the cannabis sativa from Sarti Baruwa Local Government Area of Taraba State and transported it through established supply routes for onward distribution to terrorist elements.
During the operation, troops recovered 14 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa, with an estimated total weight of about 30 kilograms.
Lieutenant-Colonel Uba said the suspect is currently in military custody undergoing preliminary investigation, while follow-up operations are ongoing to identify and dismantle the wider drug trafficking and support network linked to terrorist activities.
He added that the arrest represents another significant step in efforts to disrupt terrorist logistics and criminal support structures in the North-East.
