Troops of the Joint Task Force Northeast, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have identified one Shariff Umar as the principal coordinator of a suicide bombing network responsible for recent attacks in the North-East region.
The disclosure was made in a statement on Saturday by the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, in Maiduguri. He said the breakthrough followed sustained intelligence-led counter-terrorism operations aimed at dismantling terrorist cells operating within the theatre.
According to the statement, Shariff Umar, also known as Yusuf, was identified as the ringleader after cordon-and-search operations conducted at the Kalmari area of Maiduguri on December 31, 2025. During the operation, 14 suspects linked to suicide bombing activities were arrested.
Lt. Col. Uba explained that a suspected suicide bomber currently in custody, Ibrahim Muhammad, positively identified Shariff Umar as the coordinator of the network.
Investigations revealed that Umar was responsible for recruiting, training, directing and deploying suicide bombers, as well as coordinating logistics and supplying improvised explosive device (IED) components.
Further findings showed that Umar coordinated the suicide bombing at the Gamboru Market Mosque on December 24, 2025, in which his accomplice, Adamu, detonated a suicide vest.
He was also linked to the foiled suicide bombing attempt in Damaturu, having personally handed over IED components to the bomber in Maiduguri.
The investigation also uncovered the involvement of Umar’s wife, Yagana Modu, while his stepdaughter, Amina, confirmed seeing the suspected bomber within their residence, exposing how terrorist networks exploit family and community structures for concealment.
All suspects remain in custody and are undergoing intensive investigations aimed at dismantling the entire network, identifying collaborators and recovering remaining explosives,” the statement said.
In a related development, OPHK troops uncovered a large cache of high-calibre ammunition in the Bulumkutu Railway area of Maiduguri metropolis. The recovery followed a distress call received at about 3:00 p.m. on January 2, 2026, reporting suspicious metallic objects concealed in a drainage channel.
Troops, alongside police explosive ordnance disposal teams, discovered 1,270 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition warheads, some live rounds and power banks hidden inside the drainage.
The area has since been secured, with efforts ongoing to drain the channel to check for additional dangerous items.
No casualties were recorded during the operation, and security agencies continue to dominate the area to prevent criminal elements from recovering the items.
OPHK reiterated the importance of community cooperation, urging residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or objects, stressing that public support remains critical to sustaining peace and security in the North-East.
