Nigeria: Troops Arrest Sudanese Suspected Terrorist Fighter, Ghanaian Woman

What the report says

AllAfrica, republishing a Premium Times report from Abuja, says Nigerian troops have detained two foreign nationals during a counter-terrorism operation in Borno State. Citing a statement by Mohammed Goni, spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, the report said the operation took place at about 11:48 a.m. on 19 July in the Lassa, Dille General Area of Askira/Uba Local Government Area.

According to the military account cited by Premium Times, troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion arrested 32-year-old Musa Fashir, identified as a Sudanese national suspected of being a terrorist fighter and collaborator. The army said preliminary intelligence connected him to extremist elements active in the region. A second person, Mary Florence, 36, was also detained after reportedly saying she was an undocumented immigrant from Ghana.

Goni said the two are in military custody for profiling and questioning. Investigators are seeking to verify their identities, examine why they were in the area, and determine whether either has links to terrorist groups or cross-border criminal networks. The military presented the arrests as part of intelligence-led efforts to disrupt support systems for insurgent activity in Nigeria’s North-east.

The development matters because Borno remains a major theatre of Nigeria’s long-running conflict with jihadist insurgents and related armed networks. While the military statement raises concerns about possible foreign involvement, the allegations against the suspects have not been tested in court based on the supplied report. The army also appealed for public cooperation, saying timely information from residents is important to security operations in the region.