Troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade under Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a 20-year-old woman and her two-year-old child after she was allegedly attempting to enter a terrorist-controlled area near the Mandara Mountains in Borno State.
The arrest reportedly took place during a routine security operation along the Gwoza–Pulka Road, where soldiers were conducting picketing duties. Security analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed the development in a post shared on X on Wednesday.
According to the report, the suspect, identified as Aisha Idrisa, was intercepted close to the foothills of the Mandara Mountains, a region that has long served as a hideout for remnants of terrorist groups operating around the Nigeria-Cameroon border.
Aisha was reportedly travelling with her two-year-old child, Musbahu Christopher, when she was stopped by the troops. Security personnel recovered an Itel mobile phone, an extra battery and personal clothing from her during the operation.
During preliminary questioning, the suspect reportedly told security operatives that she was heading to her farm. However, intelligence available to the troops allegedly suggested she was attempting to gain access to a terrorist enclave, leading to her arrest for further investigation.
She is currently being held by the 26 Task Force Brigade, where she is expected to undergo further interrogation as security agencies continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The interception is part of Operation HADIN KAI’s ongoing efforts to disrupt the movement of insurgents and their suspected collaborators across northeastern Nigeria. Troops have intensified surveillance and clearance operations around the Mandara Mountains, a strategic area where terrorist elements have continued to operate despite sustained military offensives.
