The Nigerian Military, under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), has identified one Shariff Umar as the principal coordinator of a suicide bombing network responsible for recent attacks and attempted attacks across the North-East.
This breakthrough followed intelligence-led cordon-and-search operations conducted at the Kalmari area of Maiduguri on December 31, 2025, during which 14 suspects linked to suicide bombing activities were arrested. The military said subsequent identification and investigative processes revealed the structure, roles and operational linkages of the terror cell.
In a statement on Saturday, the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, said a suspected suicide bomber currently in custody, Ibrahim Muhammad, clearly identified Shariff Umar, also known as “Yusuf,” as the ringleader of the network.
According to the military, investigations showed that Umar was responsible for recruiting, preparing, directing and dispatching suicide bombers to designated targets, as well as coordinating logistics and the delivery of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) components.
The statement added that Shariff Umar directly coordinated the suicide bombing attack at the Gamboru Market Mosque on December 24, 2025, during which his accomplice, identified as Adamu, detonated a suicide vest and died in the process. He was also linked to the foiled suicide bombing attempt in Damaturu, where he allegedly personally handed over IED components to a suicide bomber in Maiduguri.
Further investigations established additional links within the network, including the involvement of Umar’s wife, Yagana Modu. His stepdaughter, Amina, also reportedly confirmed that she had previously seen the suspected suicide bomber within their residence, strengthening the investigative trail and exposing how terrorist facilitators conceal operatives within domestic and community settings.
The military said all suspects remain in custody and are undergoing intensive, multi-layered investigations aimed at dismantling the network, identifying other collaborators and recovering any remaining explosives or logistical assets.
Operation HADIN KAI noted that the development underscored the importance of effective collaboration between security forces and the civilian population, stressing that terrorist networks often survive by hiding within communities and exploiting fear, silence or misplaced loyalty.
The military therefore urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements or activities to security agencies, emphasizing that cooperation and trust between troops and local communities are essential to rooting out terrorism and restoring lasting peace in the North-East.
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